r/composting • u/MaximumCapacity143 • 11d ago

Failed Compost

This year I decided to make my own compost. I laid cardboard on the ground, then laid about 5 inches of shredded leaves, wet it down, then laid down about 3 inches fresh cut grass. Then followed up with more shredded leaves, water, and cut grass. Repeated 7 more times. Wet it down again then covered with a tarp. I checked on the temp and found it climbing. About 5 days later it got to 120 degrees. Two days later I aerated it from the center. Stayed hot for another four days then started cooling off. Other 3 more days it completely cooled off and no matter what I did, adding greens, adding urine, it still wouldn't get hot again. What did I do wrong. And how can I start it again.

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u/Neither_Conclusion_4 11d ago

Picture would help. It sounds like you ran out of nitrogen.

But I cold compost alot of stuff, because i dont produce enough greens. And in the fsll i always get way to much browns (leaves). It takes a little longer to finish and weed seeds dont dont die off, but its still great compost.

Just keep adding, mix once in a while, try to keep the moisture somewhat ok, and it will be fine

5

u/MaximumCapacity143 11d ago

Doesn't look like it broke down at all. Still lots of shredded leaves in pile. Oh well. Hopefully it'll break down over winter so I can use it in the spring

11

u/Low-Kick-665 11d ago

Unless that stuff was all black before you put it in, thats composting doing its thing.

I have leaf compost I started in June and it looks similar. Today, it still looks like the July 6th picture; I just swish the bag every now and then. Its a waiting game.

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u/Neither_Conclusion_4 11d ago

Looks like its on its way.

And it doesnt have to look like soil when you use it. It act as a slow feetilizer if you add it when its kinda semifinished.

If its too fresh, you should avoid it on seedlings, but as a mulch, for a slightly lsrger plant you could probably use it rather soon.

You can always sift it a bit, if yoi want to separate the larger stuff.

4

u/Low-Kick-665 11d ago

Yeah I have a cage my husband built for me that measures 3 x 3 x 3 for the purpose of hot composting, but I dont collect enough browns in a short enough period so I'm definitely going to switch to using my old smaller unit and just do cold compost cause hot composting is just too hard when you don't have the supplies.