The Most Important Thing to Do to Your Compost in Summer – to Stop It Drying Out So It Breaks Down Faster
Hot summer conditions make composting challenging
Composting in summer comes with many challenges, including the struggle to keep it active in extreme heat. When a compost pile dries out, microbial activity halts and decomposition slows right down. But experts say there's one thing you can do to stop this from happening.
When you make your own compost, monitoring both heat (with this compost thermometer from Amazon) and moisture is crucial to ensuring the conditions are just right for microbes (the microorganisms turning waste into compost) to break down the materials and create the crumbly 'Black Gold' we desire. Ideally, the compost should be consistently moist to keep microbes happy, though soggy conditions can also slow down decomposition.
If you find your pile has turned crispy and dried out, you can simply water it to get it going again – though you have to be careful about how much to add. Here, experts explain how to do this correctly and share other tips for keeping your compost productive this summer.
How to Stop Your Compost Drying Out
When microbial activity slows down from your compost pile being too dry, it may result in your compost pile not heating up and it can take a long time for your compost to turn into the crumbly dark consistency that we look for.
This is true in summer especially, when extreme heat can cause a compost bin sitting in a suntrap to overheat and dry out. But, it's easy enough to fix this with water.
'We want our compost to heat up but very hot conditions can also dry out your compost,' says composting expert and author, Michelle Balz.
'Ideally, your compost pile should be as wet as a wrung out sponge. If you see it looking extra crispy, add some water or expose the pile to rain to speed up decomposition,' she notes.
It really is as simple as watering your compost pile, though you should be careful not to overwater it. Just keep adding a little bit at a time (this watering can from Walmart will be easier to control than using a garden hose).
You can check the consistency by taking a handful and gently squeezing – it lots of water rushes out, it's oversaturated. One of no-dig expert Charles Dowding's composting tips is to lay out soggy compost to dry it out.
'Whenever you add moisture use cold water,' Scott Kent of Hungry Worms adds.
You can use a soil moisture meter (like this long probe one from Amazon) to check monitor the moisture levels and water accordingly. Likewise, use a compost thermometer (like this from Walmart) to monitor temperature – the sweet spot to aim for is between 130°F to 140°F.
'You can also place your compost bin in the shade, or even bring it inside if possible,' says Scott.
This will stop it from drying out so quickly. You may even want to place a shade cloth (like this from Amazon) over a permanent pallet bin if it can't be moved.
'And cut back on the amount of food you add at once. Bacterial and fungal growth create heat as they grow and their populations will boom when lots of fresh food is added, which can warm up your bin,' Scott adds.
Likewise, to avoid summer pests like flies and rodents, take care to avoid using things you should never place in a compost bin.
Michelle Balz is a long-time backyard composter with a passion for reducing our impact on the planet and the author of Composting for a New Generation. She spends her days writing laid-back advice for home composters in the Confessions of a Composter blog, teaching classes on backyard composting, and learning everything she can about composting, recycling, reusing, and waste reduction.
Scott is a worm farmer and soil microbiologist. He has supplied composting worms for large businesses and small businesses, schools, and home gardeners alike. He educates about soil health and have been certified through the soil food web school for soil microscopy work.
What to Shop
This compost accelerator boost biological activity and enhances the decomposition rate.
Use this compost thermometer to monitor the heat in your pile. Simply insert it to take a reading.
This aerator tool is designed to turn compost easily, keeping it ventilated and aerobic.
There are several composting mistakes to avoid this summer to ensure your efforts are successful. This includes getting the ratio wrong of brown and green materials – you should aim for two parts brown, one part green.
'Since most home composters rely on fall leaves to balance out the nitrogen heavy food scraps when composting, we often find our supply of leaves dwindling in the summer,' says Michelle.
'You can use alternative sources of brown or carbon-heavy material including shredded newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, animal bedding, straw, or wood chips,' she adds.
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