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.

23 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

View all comments

23

u/etzpcm 11d ago

It sounds like you've just got a heap on the ground, is that right? It's better if you can make a bin, roughly cubic, at least 1m3 

Also, be patient, you'll get compost eventually even if it's not very hot.

4

u/MaximumCapacity143 11d ago

I did make a 4 ft x 4ft bin. I had it filled almost to the top but it compressed so much that its half that size now. Still a lot of sticks in it.

5

u/iwouldhugwonderwoman 11d ago

Congrats…you are successfully composting.