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Deer Park WA

Hello pumpkin growers! We have about 10 inches of snow here and it has been in the 20 degree range. My 5' X 5' X 5' compost piles of leaves, garden refuse, and fresh manure seem to be cooling off. I have been turning them regulary. If I add a bunch of left over Ammonium Sulfate (21-0-0)will it burn my surrounding fall rye, or kill off my soil buddies? I really need to get those pesky piles to break down by spring, as I have doubled my planting area and need the ammendments.
Happy Hollidays The Gadberry's

12/9/2001 2:26:51 PM

Midway City, California

http://www.mastercomposter.com/archive/arc_tool.html
Maybe you can finds some information from this link

12/9/2001 4:35:20 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

You can try covering them with straw to preserve some of the heat. It may be that they are getting close to being completed and can't generate the heat that a new pile does.

12/9/2001 5:05:13 PM

Long Island,New York

I covered the sides of my pile with 2 inch styrofoam boards and placed bags of leaves that i save for summer composting (with the lawn clippings) on top and kept the pile over 100 degrees til mid Jan in last years NY winter.....G

12/9/2001 5:41:10 PM

porterville, calif.

Hi try covering the pile with cardboard or even use a Black plastic to help hold in the heat. How often do you turn the piles? You may try not turning it as much, Each time you turn it the heat escapes. The cardboard will break down and would be good for your pile. Even add newspapers,then cardboard as they will break down too. Greg

12/9/2001 7:45:07 PM

walton n.y.

i've heard that in some small towns the ink used to print newspapers has a chemical in it that can slow growth and isn't all that good for you if you eat veggies out of that soil as well

12/10/2001 7:34:27 PM