Compost can become clumpy when you don't have enough moisture in the compost or if you added large amounts of clumping prone materials such as cardboard, paper or grass clippings.
A compost pile should be watered at least 1 to 2 times per week.
Just don't water the compost too much as it can smother the compost pile.
Too little water and the bacteria in the compost pile will be killed and you won't get the compost.
A compost pile should be turned at least once a week or every few weeks.
However if you want to speed up the compost pile you should turn the compost pile daily or at least every 3 days to 4 days.
If you don't turn your compost the compost won't get the proper amount of oxygen it needs to break down.
Turning your compost introduces the oxygen into the compost pile and allows for any needed compensations to be made into your compost ration.
When the compost sits without any movement or being turned the layers of the compost settle and become compact which limits the needed aerobic action which is the oxygen flow which keeps the microbes in the compost pile alive.
Things that make compost break down faster are keeping the compost pile moist, turning the compost daily, using coffee grounds, grass clippings, manure and worms also the use of a compost accelerator can speed up the compost breaking down process.
The quickest you can make some compost is 1 to weeks although a good compost pile can take 6 months to a year.
To make compost in a week start with a small compost pile or compost in a bucket or composter.
Use equal parts of green and brown materials by volume which will deliver the 30:1 ration of carbon to nitrogen rich ingredients you need.
Chop the materials up into small pieces and layer greens in a pile at least 36 inches square and 36 inches high.
Add water and turn the pile daily.
You can make small amounts of compost in 2 weeks although it won't be as good as older compost would be.
The quickest you can make compost is 2 weeks although at 2 weeks the compost won't be very goo compost.
Making very good compost takes some time and the longer you wait for the compost the better the compost will be.
Good compost can take 6 months to a year and if you can keep a good compost pile going the really great compost will be after 2 years.
Good ready to use compost is ready when it has cooled, turned a rich brown color, and has decomposed into small soil-like particles.
Compost can take anywhere between 24 hours to a year or more to make, depending on the method you opt.
Electric composters are the fastest way to make compost, and can break down your food waste in 24 hours or less.
Other indoor composting methods typically take a lot longer than outdoor methods to create compost.
In hot, dry weather, regularly adding water to a hot compost process is often a necessity.
A minimum moisture content of 50% is recommended for compost to support a hot compost process.
A hot compost pile can easily lose 1% of moisture content every day.
Don't add fish, meat, dairy products, bones, baked goods, fatty foods or grease to your compost pile.
These food scraps do not easily decompose and may attract animals.
Don't use diseased plants or plants that are toxic to other plants.
Composting is a controlled, aerobic (oxygen-required) process that converts organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment or mulch through natural decomposition.
The end product is compost – a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material.
Compost is decomposed organic material. Compost is made with material such as leaves, shredded twigs, and kitchen scraps from plants.
To gardeners, compost is considered "black gold" because of its many benefits in the garden.
Cold composting is as simple as collecting yard waste or taking out the organic materials in your trash (such as fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds and filters, and eggshells) and then corralling them in a pile or bin.
Over the course of a year or so, the material will decompose.
The key difference between manure and compost is that manure is feces (sometimes urine) sourced as a byproduct from raising animals, while compost is organic matter that's undergone a natural decomposition process.
Both provide nutrient content for plants, but they may be used for different reasons.