GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

[email protected] · 25-02-2010, 02:35 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible

On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:37:26 -0500, phorbin
wrote:

In article ,
says...

Well, he could add leaves or straw on the top which would contain the
smell.

Trying to seal it up would make the pile more anaerobic.

Eventually it all breaks down and the smell goes away but depending on
the size of the bin/pile, it can take awhile.

I can't give accurate facts and figures but I've instigated a couple of
compost heap meltdowns with too many grass clippings and I think it took
about two weeks for the stench to drop to barely noticeable.

At the time the neighbours were all on vacation or the houses were
vacant and up for sale, my wife was away and the compost bins are far
away from the house so I let it go and then incorporated the result in
the next compost heap.

Adding leaves (and rarely straw) is actually what I do when I empty my
inside compost bucket on top of the pile. I'm a lazy composter who
only turns it once a year. The leaves cover the odor as far as my nose
can tell. Come spring I turn the whole thing over and take from the
bottom.

I used to love to use grass clippings but now I just leave them where
they fall.

Someday it's going to warm up.....