You want to keep your compost moist, not soggy but not dry. It is the living organisms that break down the compost, and they will die if the pile is allowed to dry out. So you water if as often as needed to keep it moist.
This section describes how to maintain your pile over the weeks or months it will take to generate finished compost. The more often you water and turn the pile (1-2 times per week), the faster material will be composted, but don't be discouraged if you can't maintain it as frequently as is ideal.
Adding water to a compost pile in hot weather follows the same principles as watering a garden. The goals are to conserve water and minimize the amount of effort required to keep the microbes alive and thriving. These best practices for moisture addition include: Add water regularly (at least once per week)
Too much water can smother the pile, which means your organic waste won't decompose and you'll get a slimy and smelly pile that could well answer to the name “swamp thing.” Too little water and you'll kill the bacteria and you won't get your compost (see Managing Moisture in Compost).
Using pee: a how-to guide. Keep in mind that urine is very high in nitrogen. You may need to pee daily, but your plants don't need your daily pee. Choose plants that need lots of nitrogen, such as corn and squash, tomatoes and cucumbers during their fruit-bearing stage, and older plants that need a boost.
which carry out the processes of decomposition. Organisms need free contact with both soil and atmosphere and suitable environments of warmth and moisture. The pile should not be directly exposed to sun, wind, rain, nor sited in a low-lying place subject to unnecessary dampness and standing water.
As a rule of thumb, actively decomposing materials should be turned every three to four days. Materials with slowed microbial activity can be turned less often. In tumblers, turning two times a week resulted in higher temperature and faster decomposition than turning once a week or once every other week (Figure 1).
Adding nitrogen-rich materials
The microorganisms in compost need both nitrogen and carbon to work. If there is too much carbon, the process will slow down. To speed up the process try adding 'greens' – items that are high in nitrogen, such as grass clippings or manure.
Most expert composters suggest a moisture content of 40% to 60%. A quick, hands-on visual check should tell you if the pile is too dry: it will lack heat and there'll be little evidence of organic material break down.
Composting works in sun or shade Piles in sunny spots will decompose quicker but also dry out faster and may need supplemental watering during hot dry weather. Those located in a shadier spot will stay moist longer but decompose slower. In either case, make sure the soil below the pile is well-drained.
If you keep adding fresh material to a pile or bin, your compost will never be ready to use. Once you mix enough material, don't add any more so what's there can cook. Depending on how hot your pile gets, it usually takes between 3 weeks and 3 months to get finished compost.
The final step in the process is to water your newly composted lawn. This helps the compost to seep further down into the soil.
The passive composting methods are also known as cold composting, and you need to stop adding to the pile around when it should be done decomposing, which can take up to two years. In batch method composting – or hot composting – you need to stop adding to the pile until it has heated up and cooled entirely down.
As a general rule of thumb, compost will last between 3 to 6 months. However, this depends on the compost composition and how it is stored. Ideally, compost should be used by the following growing season.
Compost loses volume over time
The shrinkage does continue but slows down considerably as the compost becomes more stable. However, it will still slowly decrease in bulk over time. If you leave it too long, you are feeding microorganisms in the compost, rather than in the soil.
Turning too often (every day) disrupts the formation of the fungi and actinomycetes that do much of the composting work and may prevent the pile from heating up completely. For the fastest, most efficient decomposition, a pile should be left essentially alone to “cook” until it starts to cool.
How does it get this way? Three factors are usually to blame: poor aeration, too much moisture, or not enough nitrogen-rich material in the pile.
You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade, but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster.
Decomposition will be complete anywhere from two weeks to two years depending on the materials used, the size of the pile, and how often it is turned.
Activators Around the House
Rabbit food (pellets) and dry dog food are also organic activators that are often have on-hand. Human urine is an interesting (and free) compost activator if you're game. It's loaded with nitrogen, minerals, and vitamins, making it a dandy activator.
Composting involves mixing grass clippings and other plant materials with a small amount of soil containing microorganisms that decompose organic matter. Grass clippings are excellent additions to a compost pile because of their high nitrogen content. Grass clippings should not be the only compost material.
If a compost pile is just left sitting, and not turned, it will take 6-12 months or longer to completely break down, depending of the climate and weather. The cooler it is, the longer it will take.
The quick answer is that in general, worms can help speed the composting process that turns scraps and debris into usable garden conditioner. Some types of worms consume and digest rotting vegetables and other matter you put into the bin. They excrete material in a form your plants can use as nutrients.