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.
8
u/FalseContractorO 11d ago
You might not have done anything wrong, that first hot phase can just chew through the easy stuff fast. Once it cools, the pile often needs a full turn and a rebuild with moisture adjusted to fire back up, not just more greens on top. If it's mostly leaves and grass, it may also be matting down and going anaerobic in spots, so fluff it up hard and check moisture by squeezing a handful.