Compost Troubleshooting
Problem: Compost is overly smelly.
Suggestion: Make sure you’re not adding any meat, bones, fish, grease, or large amounts of diary to the pile, and that your ingredient ratio is about 3:1 browns-to-greens. Add more browns and turn the pile to aerate. Break up any compacted or wet areas. Always top the pile with a layer of browns.
Problem: Compost is attracting animals.
Suggestion: Make sure you are following the instructions for building your pile (keep meat, fish, dairy, and grease out; layer with a 3:1 browns-to-greens; always top the pile with a layer of browns; keep the pile aerated). It is normal for small herbivorous pests like mice to check out your pile, but if it is excessive or your pile is attracting larger or carnivorous animals, try adding more browns, using an enclosed container like a tumbler, lining the inside of the container with hardware cloth, or fencing around the pile. Turning the pile more frequently (but still no more than once every couple weeks) will aerate the pile and accelerate the process, which will make pests less interested. (These tips work for keeping pets out of your pile, as well!)
Concerned about bears? Composting in bear country is safe as long as the pile is properly managed. Click here to learn about composting in bear country.
Problem: Compost is attracting flies.
Suggestion: Flies will not hurt your pile, but they are certainly unpleasant. Sprinkling sawdust on top of the pile and inside food scrap buckets or containers will deter flies. Before adding them to the compost pile, you can store your kitchen scraps in the refrigerator or freezer to keep fruit flies away. You can also make a simple fruit fly trap with apple cider vinegar and dish soap.
Problem: Compost has maggots.
Suggestion: Similar to flies, maggots won’t harm your compost but can be unpleasant. To deter maggots, add more browns and turn your pile. Sprinkle sawdust on top of your pile to keep flies from landing on it and laying eggs. You can also add small amounts of acidic materials (lime, citrus rinds, or pine needles) to the pile - but be careful not to add to much, or the finished compost will be too acidic to add to your garden. Read more here.
Problem: Compost is soggy or slimy.
Suggestion: Add more browns and aerate.
Problem: Compost won’t heat up.
Suggestion: Cool compost can mean the pile is too small, is not getting enough nitrogen (greens) or is too dry. Backyard compost piles should be around 1 cubic yard in size (but of course this depends how far along you are in the process!). Add more greens or try watering your pile. Don’t worry too much about your pile heating up - as long as you are not composting weed seeds or meat and you are patient, your compost pile will be fine!