{"id":147,"date":"2025-11-14T13:26:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T21:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/?page_id=147"},"modified":"2025-11-14T13:26:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T21:26:47","slug":"troubleshooting-your-garden-compost-pile","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/extension\/troubleshooting-your-garden-compost-pile\/","title":{"rendered":"Troubleshooting Your Garden Compost Pile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Troubleshooting Compost\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1132603181?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Text Transcript with Description of Visuals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-11\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-11\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\" style=\"width:50%;\">Audio<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Video<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">[ Music ]<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">On screen text. Washington State University Extension presents Troubleshooting Your Garden Compost Pile.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Composting is a natural way to turn garden debris and food scraps into a beneficial soil amendment.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A pile of compost. On the left, food scraps such as onion skins, bell pepper, and shrimp visible among the brown soil. On the right, a green plant grows from the blended soil.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">It recycles organic matter and reduces the amount entering our solid waste systems.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Views of various wooden slat square bins filled with organic material.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If you need information or plans for building a compost bin, check out our website.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Text on screen: <br \/>\n<br \/>\n Extension dot W S U dot E D U slash Spokane slash the dash essentials dash of dash composting. <br \/>\n<br \/>\nPhoto of food waste in a pile. The Essentials of Composting. Don't Waste Your Waste. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Composting is a fairly simple process, but it does require some maintenance and sometimes some troubleshooting.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A person rubs compost through their fingers as they take a measurement with a thermometer. Then, a person uses a shovel to turn a pile of compost while another person sprays it with water.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">This video was created to help garden composters figure out what's wrong with their compost pile.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Close up views of the material in a compost pile.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"> Sometimes a compost pile will start to smell bad.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThis can happen if there isn't enough air moving through the pile, and it could be caused by overwatering. <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Close up of compost.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"> Check the size of the compost pile.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIf it's larger than about 5 feet tall, wide, and deep, this may be the problem. <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A large compost pile sits on the ground.  It is not in a bin.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nA tall pile of leaves sits on the ground in a wooded area.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Compost piles that are too large can't allow for sufficient airflow.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A tall compost pile is contained in a metal bin.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Turning a pile regularly does allow for increased air circulation.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A person turns a compost pile with a rake.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"> However, if the pile is too large, simply turning it may not solve the issue. <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A large compost pile in a wooden structure.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If you notice the materials in the pile are compacted or too wet, you can add some bulking agents, often called browns.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Text on screen: <br \/>\n<br \/>\nHigh in Carbon - Browns or bulking agent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">These include things like dry leaves, plant stalks, wood chips, or straw mulch.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">People add these items to their compost piles. Then, a person turns their pile with a rake.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-15 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"> Adding these should increase aeration in the pile and soak up excess water.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe pile should stop smelling within a day or two. <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Then, a person turns their pile with a rake.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-16 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If this doesn't work, a last resort is to spread the pile back out and expose it to the air.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A person spreads compost on a large blue tarp.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-17 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Excess water should evaporate or infiltrate into the soil within a few days, and you can rebuild the compost pile.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Close up footage of compost spread out on a large blue tarp.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-18 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">A compost pile will heat up noticeably as the decomposing process begins.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A person places a compost thermometer into a compost pile.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-19 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">You can use a compost thermometer to confirm this, or just feel the interior of the pile with your hands, but be careful, as compost can get hot enough to actually burn.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A compost thermometer in original packaging.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nA person pushes the top layer of compost away, revealing the compost beneath.  They feel for temperature.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nText on screen reads 120 degrees to 150 degrees.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-20 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If the pile isn't getting hot, one possibility is that the pile is too small.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A compost thermometer reads 62 degrees.  This is below the green zone shown on the thermometer's face.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-21 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If the pile is less than 3 feet tall, wide, and deep, it doesn't have enough volume.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A large 3 bin compost unit shows three small piles of compost.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-22 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If the pile is large enough, check the center of the pile for moisture.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A person digs into the center of a compost pile with their hand and feels for moisture.<br \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-23 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If even the center of the pile is dry, add some more water and mix well.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A person adds water to a compost pile with a blue plastic watering can.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-24 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">What if the pile has enough water, but still isn't heating up?<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A compost bin is shown that has a pile reaching almost to the top of the bin.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-25 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">It could be a lack of materials with nitrogen, sometimes called the greens.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Text on screen reads, High in Nitrogen - Greens or Energy Material.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-26 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Add materials like untreated grass clippings, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps, or safe manures like cow, sheep, or rabbit.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Montage of footage showing a wheelbarrow full of grass clippings, and compost bins with coffee grounds and fruit and vegetable scraps.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nNext four thumbnail video clips show cows, rabbits, sheep, and chickens.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-27 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"> Mix them into the pile.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nYou shouldn't need to add more water as these materials often have enough moisture on their own. <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A person rakes a pile of wet compost.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-28 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">You might have problems in your compost pile that we haven't covered in this short video.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A still image of the contents of a compost bin.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-29 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">If so, you can contact the WSU Extension Spokane County Master Gardeners if you have questions.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">On screen text. For more information. Spokane County Master Gardeners. Extension dot W S U dot E D U slash Spokane slash M G slash. The Essentials of Composting. Extension dot W S U dot E D U slash Spokane slash the dash essentials dash of dash composting. A Q R code in the center bottom of the screen.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-30 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">You can also visit the website for the Spokane County Master Composter\/Recyclers on this topic, and lots more.<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A screenshot of the Spokane County Master Composter\/Recycler Program website.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-31 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">[ Music ]<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Credits. Produced by C A H N R S Communications, Washington State University. Executive Producers, Tammy Wilson, Tim Kohlhauff, W S U Extension, Spokane County. Thanks to W S U Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County, Master Composters\/Recyclers. Funding provided by Washington State Department of Ecology. This material is funded through a Public Participant Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Ecology reviewed the content for grant consistency but does not necessarily endorse it. Washington State University Extension.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-11 from cache -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Text Transcript with Description of Visuals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8295,"featured_media":0,"parent":21,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/147"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":178,"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/147\/revisions\/178"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cahnrs.wsu.edu\/descriptive-transcripts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}