SYMPTOMS PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS
|
Compost has a bad smell |
Not enough air / too compacted / too much green material |
Turn the pile and add browns |
Too much water |
Decrease watering; protect from heavy rain if no lid; turn pile and add browns |
Meat, dairy, fish etc. in pile |
Leave them out, turn pile and add browns |
Centre of pile is dry |
Not enough water |
Moisten and turn pile |
Pile has slumped and seems slimy |
Too much green material |
Turn pile adding lots of browns |
Lots of fruit flies
|
Exposed kitchen scraps |
Cover kitchen scraps with leaves, grass or a sheet of newspaper |
Attracts rats
|
Food available |
Do not put meat, fish or dairy scraps onto the pile. Put bricks around base of compost bin if necessary |
Seeking warmth in winter |
Turn pile and add browns to release built-up heat. Put bricks around base of compost bin if necessary |
General |
Sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally around the pile. |
Not heating up
|
Insufficient moisture |
Add water while turning pile or cover top |
Poor aeration |
Turn pile |
Lack of greens |
Mix in greens, e.g. grass clippings |
