Building a compost heap for the first time is a learning process. If you have any problems, this page will help you find, and fix, the cause.
| Symptoms |
Problem |
Solution |
| The heap is wet and smells like a mixture of rancid butter, vinegar and rotten eggs |
Not enough air |
Pull it to pieces, shake it loose, improve the base, and rebuild it |
| The centre is dry and stemmy |
Not enough water |
Soak tough, stemmy material and add a starter |
| The heap is damp, and warm right in the middle, but nowhere else |
Too small |
Collect more material and start again, or try worm compost |
| The heap is big, damp and sweet smelling, but still will not heat up |
Probably nutrient deficiency |
Make a large hole in the middle and empty in a bucketful of manure, or add a starter |
©2004 Frann Leach. All rights reserved.
