Composting Blues?

If you are having problems making good compost – don’t give up!

The cause is usually simple and the following advice will help you get back on track:

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

Check out The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust for more information on solving composting troubles: