How do I know when my compost is ready?

Generally compost is ready to be harvested when the finished product is a rich dark brown color, smells like earth, and crumbles in your hand. Some signs that it may not be ready include: Recognizable food content still visible. The pile is still warm.
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How can you tell when your compost is ready to use?

Compost is ready or finished when it looks, feels and smells like rich, dark earth rather than rotting vegetables. In other words, it should be dark brown, crumbly and smell like earth.
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How long does it take for compost to be ready?

Compost can be made in as little as six to eight weeks, or, more usually, it can take a year or more. In general, the more effort you put in, the quicker you will get compost. When the ingredients you have put in your container have turned into a dark brown, earthy smelling material, the composting process is complete.
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Can you use compost before it's ready?

Before you raid your compost bin, remember that using compost before it's ready can attract pests and damage garden plants. It can also use up nutrients in your soil, making these same nutrients unavailable to your garden plants. To make sure that your compost is ready to use, grab a handful and have a look.
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What will happen if you left the compost too long?

If you leave compost in the pile, in a bag or bin too long, it can still be good to use for years as long as you control moisture levels, cover it and store it in a dry place. But gradually it will break down, nutrients will leach and compost can start to rot as well as it can get contaminated with fungus.
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How Do I Know When My Compost Is Ready? (Backyard Composting: Part 7)



How often do you water compost?

On average, plan to water your compost pile every three to seven days. In other words: once or twice a week. This is generally considered a good rule of thumb among most gardeners as the best time to wait before watering compost again. If you live in a dry, warm environment, it is better to water twice a week.
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What does unfinished compost look like?

Unfinished compost looks like a mixture of organic materials containing bits and pieces you can still recognize. When you check your heap, if you spot a few vegetable peels and leaves, then you're looking at unfinished compost. You can also tell unfinished compost by how it smells and feels.
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What does ready compost look like?

Generally compost is ready to be harvested when the finished product is a rich dark brown color, smells like earth, and crumbles in your hand. Some signs that it may not be ready include: Recognizable food content still visible. The pile is still warm.
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How long does it take for compost to turn into soil?

Decomposition will be complete anywhere from two weeks to two years depending on the materials used, the size of the pile, and how often it is turned. Compost is ready when it has cooled, turned a rich brown color, and has decomposed into small soil-like particles.
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Can you just put compost on top of soil?

In general, it doesn't matter what kind of soil you have. All soils can be improved with the addition of compost. One easy way to apply compost is to mulch with it. Spread the compost in a thick layer on top of exposed soil.
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What will make compost break down faster?

You can speed up compost in winter by adding a layer of insulation to your compost bin or pile. Insulated bins will keep the compost warm and speed up the decomposition process. Likewise, you can also add a heat source to your quick composting bin, such as a hot water bottle or an electric heater.
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How often should compost be turned?

That being said, a good rule of thumb is to turn a compost tumbler every three to four days and the compost pile every three to seven days. As your compost matures, you can turn the tumbler or pile less frequently.
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How do you activate compost?

You can boost a compost pile with Super Hot, an organic activator make of nitrogen and hungry micro-organisms. Keep it moistWater is another key component in making compost, but you don't need too much. Your compost pile should be moist like a damp sponge, not soggy or waterlogged.
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How wet should compost be?

Active microorganisms need a moist environment. Ideally, composting materials should be between 40 and 60 percent water. When conditions are too wet, water will fill the pore space needed for air movement, and anaerobic conditions can result. If conditions are too dry, the decomposition rate will slow down.
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Can I keep adding to my compost pile?

You can keep adding to a cold compost pile gradually over time. Keep in mind that you will get the ready compost much slower. On average, the compost with passive method will take a year or two before you can use it in your garden.
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When should I stop adding to my compost tumbler?

Keep adding your ingredients until your tumbler is almost full. Don't fill it all the way or the contents won't mix. Then stop adding new material. The time - the promised two to three weeks to convert that stuff to compost - starts when you stop adding stuff.
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Why is my compost taking so long?

If the pile has more brown organic materials, it may take longer to compost. You can speed up the process by adding more green materials or a fertilizer with nitrogen (use one cup per 25 square feet). The surface area of the materials effects the time needed for composting.
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Can you plant straight into compost?

Using Compost in your garden

For best results compost should be dug into the soil. Don't plant directly into compost as this can burn plant roots.
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Will compost attract rats?

Rats are attracted to compost bins and heaps as a source of food, shelter and as a warm dry place to nest.
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What is considered green in composting?

First, know that a healthy compost pile requires a mix of dry, carbon-rich "brown" items (e.g. dry leaves and grasses, newspaper, dead plant clippings, wood branches, hay, straw, sawdust, and pine needles) and wet, nitrogen-rich "green" items (e.g. grass clippings, food scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, and fresh ...
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Should compost be covered?

You should definitely cover finished compost. Otherwise, if it's exposed to the elements, the compost will break down further and lose nutrients as they leach into the surrounding soil.
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When should I turn my compost pile hot?

Once the pile starts to cool down below 130 degrees, it's time to turn the pile. Turning the pile aerates it, which will kickstart microbial activity again. Moisture is also essential. The contents of your compost pile should feel like a sponge that has been wrung out well.
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Can unfinished compost burn plants?

But one day you take a look at the plants and you notice that they look burnt. Is the compost to blame. Compost can burn your plants when it is not used properly. If the gardener uses too much compost on each plant or they choose to use the compost before it is ready, it can potentially burn your plants.
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Can I pee on my compost pile?

Urine Can Be Good For Your Compost

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are present in substantial amounts in our urine. So, peeing on your compost is a great free and non-toxic approach to restoring critical minerals like nitrogen in your soil.
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Should compost bins be in the sun or shade?

You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade, but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster. This also means that your pile will dry out faster, especially in warm southern climates.
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