Problem solver

Compost too wet

A soggy pile suffocates. Water fills the air pockets the microorganisms need, the pile goes anaerobic, and you get slime and sour smells instead of compost.

The check: squeeze a handful. If water streams out, or the material is matted, slimy, or smells sour, it is too wet.

The fix: add dry browns and mix them all the way through. Shredded cardboard and dry leaves are the workhorses because they soak up water and prop open air pockets at the same time. Torn egg cartons and plain paper work too. Turn the whole pile while you add them, breaking up any matted or slimy layers you find.

If the pile sits in a spot that collects rain, fix the location problem too. Cover it with a tarp, weight the edges, or move it onto a pallet so water drains out the bottom.

Tumbler users: clumped balls of material mean the same thing, too much moisture. Crumble the balls, add browns, and spin.

Expect the smell to fade within a week once air is back in the mix.

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