my compost pile is between my garden and a thick row of tall lilac bushes. it's always in the shade, but nicely out of sight.is this o.k.? thanks in advance!

-- fred in wi (sixuvusmeyers@aol.com), August 06, 2001

Answers

I would think so, so long as it doesn't stay too wet. Keep it turned occasionally.

-- Mike (smfine@yahoo.com), August 06, 2001.

Depends on whether you want it to compost fast or not. A shaded compost pile will not decompose as fast as one in the sun. Personally, I am a big fan of "cold" composting -- if it takes longer, oh well. If you want it to go faster, I think you'd have to add more manure to it. The manure heats it up.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), August 06, 2001.

Shaded is okay, it will take somewhat longer. Just make sure that the lilacs don't start putting roots up into it.

In addition to manure heating the pile faster, a larger stack, with more greens (grass clippings, coffee grounds, vegetable trash, manure, blood meal) will accelerate it. If you start getting an ammonia smell off of it, it's too much green (nitrogen) and you need more brown (carbon -- straw, old hay, dead leaves, wood chips).

Recent testing of the 'compost accelerants'sold in stores, etc. have shown that they have little to no effect. Pouring stale beer or urine onto the pile works better.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), August 06, 2001.

Julie id put the beer and urin in at the same time but its to tall lol im sorry the devil is after me again. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), August 06, 2001.

Get a step ladder! ;-)

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), August 07, 2001.

Well, actually, there has been a LOT of discussion on the compost forum about putting the beer in AFTER it's been through the body....you get double duty that way! :-)

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), August 07, 2001.

I've been using the shade in composting since I started. I've never had a problem with it. I turn it a couple times a week if I remember, and use it a lot earlier than I would normally. No problems so far.

Lew

-- lew (lewr93@aol.com), August 07, 2001.