What is composting? The basic needs of the compost What can be placed in the compost? Bedding and nutrient additives Regulations related to composting Creating and maintaining different types of composts

Fault-finding diagram for the compost Using the compost soil Composting in winter Composting in housing companies Composting in schools, day-care centres and similar institutions

 

If the compost stinks

Compost does not heat up and has a rotten stink

• Compost is too wet and/or dense
• Mix the compost properly and add coarse bedding to it
• The smell disappears in a few days and the compost starts working normally

Compost is hot and stinks of ammonia

• Increase the use of sour bedding (e.g. peat or bark)
• As a first aid, spread a layer a couple of centimeters thick of this bedding on the surface of the compost  
• Do not toss the compost too often

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The compost neither warms up nor stinks

Humidity is suitable

• Compost has decayed to a point, where the hot phase is already over
• Empty the compost and start the filling over

Too dry

• Sprinkle with warm water

Nitrogen content too low

• Add, for example, granules of poultry manure or compoststarter in the compost

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There are flies in the compost

• If the compost stinks, mix it and add plenty of bedding to it
• Turn the surface layer, where the flies have laid their eggs, over deeper in the compost
• Rinse the inner walls of the composter and the cover with hot water
• If you must do away with the flies by spraying, use pyrethrin-based insecticide, which decomposes in the compost

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There are ants in the compost

• Compost is probably too dry
• Water and mix the compost

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There is mould of fungi in the compost

• Growth of mould or fungi in the compost is not a cause for concern - both of them belong to the decomposers of the compost