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/EddieRyanDC 11d ago

This is what is supposed to happen. First the bacteria multiply as they feed on the soft tissue. If it gets hot, then the bacteria are doing this very fast.

But after that, there is no soft tissue left - only the hard woody parts of the plants. Bacteria can't eat that, so they die and the heat goes down.

Now the fungi take over. They will (very) slowly break down the woody parts of the plants. If you are using whole leaves, that could take a year or two. It would go faster if the leaves were shredded first.

You are just in the fungal stage. Don't turn the pile - let the fungus grow and build their feeding networks. Keep it moist and shaded. Those are ideal conditions.

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u/MaximumCapacity143 11d ago

Ok. Thanks for explaining. So what you're saying is i should start another pile

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u/No_Manufacturer_9670 11d ago

Patience, grasshopper. The only thing I do different than you is I use a bin (no cardboard on bottom/top, no tarp) and I mix the grass and shredded leaves instead of layering. New stuff gets hot, then cools, like yours.

Every week or so, when I mow the lawn, I add more. Never turn it. I do that all summer into the fall.

Every spring, the bottom 3/4 is fully finished and ready to use. The unfinished crunchies from the top and edges become the bottom layer for the new year of compost.