Covering the compost pile

by Jeanne
(Bogalusa, LA USA)

Can I cover my compost hill (which is about 6 feet from the patio deck) with black plastic. I have been told that it can spontaneously combust and cause a fire. I find the plastic keeps the moisture in much better than leaving it open to the sun and other elements. Thank you, Jeanne in LA

Doug says - spontaneously combust? What size compost pile are we talking about here? :-) It had better be really big before we get to that level of heat/O2 level that will spontaneously ignite. A household compost pile (about 4x4x4') isn't going to light up. My research says that if your pile is less than 7 feet tall, you're not going to have a problem. Well, if you add hot ashes from a fireplace all bets are off (which is how some compost piles get lit up - duh!)

Can you cover it with black poly? Sure. No problem and a lot of folks do in damp climates. The deal is that you want your compost to be damp but not soaking.

Covering it with black poly won't raise the heat as much as clear poly will.




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Covering the compost pile

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I live in Florida (tallahassee)I have a new compost filled with millipedes
by: Anonymous

Hi Doug, I have millipedes all over the place this season and I'm new to composting, I am wondering if the millipedes that are now making a grande' appearance on the top of my new compost barrel is healthy or not? These guys are everywhere! Comments please...

Christine

compost?
by: bryan

Thanks for that info, I wanted to know also if I could cover it with black plastic!!!!!

*****

Doug says that all those exclamation marks indicate you're not happy with the answer. Perhaps you should read it again. Some people are very hard to please it seems.

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