Turning compost piles provides more air to beneficial microbes, helping to speed up the composting process and creating enough heat to kill weed seeds, pests, and pathogens. Aim to turn a hot compost ...

It takes time to make compost. Organic matter requires about two to three months to break down in hot compost piles, and up to a year or more in cold composting systems. But if you add a compost ...

“Compost pile fires are more common than people would like to believe,” said Matt Smith, a doctoral student at UNH’s Natural Resources Department. These fires start when new, dry organic feedstock is ...

Emily Baker is a Purdue Extension master gardener and has been gardening nearly 50 years. She is member and past president of South Central Indiana Master Gardener Association. More information about ...