What should compost smell like?

MrSalvage · April 18, 2016

Ran into a guy that had home made compost and man does it stink. He had all kinds of stuff in with it to include pumpkin, squash, kolorabie & corn on the cob to name just a few. Then add a bunch of leaves ect...

My lord what should it smell like?

TightenUp · April 18, 2016

finished compost shouldn't stink

MrSalvage · April 18, 2016

The compost is actively being built. So it's not finished yet. I guess that's an important detail.

Sorry...

pmcgrady · April 18, 2016

Good compost smells like money...
Only way I can describe it...

TightenUp · April 18, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

Good compost smells like money...
Only way I can describe it...

Father'sDaughter · April 18, 2016

My working compost smells very strongly earthy, but not garbage-like.

MrSalvage · April 18, 2016

I think the guy was slippen a little dog poo into it... Man did it stink!

loulac · April 19, 2016

Vegetation needs oxygen to give compost, if there isn't enough it will rot and give a characteristic unpleasant smell. Moving the compost heap from left to right, then from right to left the following month with a fork will give it enough air. Without oxygen the molecules will still break down but it will take at least two years instead of some months.

sjamesNorway · April 19, 2016

I have 2 enclosed bins which heat up, and which I use in alternating years. I only compost plant material, and I aerate it often. The compost just smells good and earthy.

MrSalvage · April 19, 2016

This definitely smells of dog poo... I guess pumpkins and squash don't break down so good...

Oh well... Thanks

UFXEFU · April 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSalvage

This definitely smells of dog poo... I guess pumpkins and squash don't break down so good...

Oh well... Thanks

Never put animal waste from meat eating animals in compost for use in a vegetable garden, as this can spread disease to humans.

Cow and horse manure is ok, but I would compost it in a separate pile. Keep the pile turned to supply oxygen and it will not smell bad.

habitat_gardener · April 19, 2016

The unpleasant odor can indicate that he's adding stinky stuff, but in general, stinky compost is compost that has gone anaerobic. It needs to be aired out, and dried out. If it were your own compost, you could do this by turning it and adding more "browns" as you went. Browns are mulch, newspapers, straw, autumn leaves, etc. The stinky odor can mean the browns and greens were not balanced -- excess greens make a stinky mess -- or it could even mean that he's just adding "greens" (kitchen waste, green leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, etc) without covering them up.

MrSalvage · April 20, 2016

Thank you all for your posts. Great info here from you guys and gals!

Jonnyhat · June 12, 2016

first year i made this mistake, it smells like death when it goes anerobic, it will still eventually compost, but it takes a lot longer.

Worth1 · June 12, 2016

I just now saw this thread as old as it is.
Compost should smell like a forest floor.
Just go out in the woods and scoop up some black soil right under the leaves and smell it.
That is what it is supposed to smell like.
You can use any kind of animal flop (including human) you want but it better be (hot hot super hot ) compost so it kills the parasites and other types of no no's that are in it.
I choose not to use it myself.

Worth

April 18, 2016	#1
MrSalvage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: VA - Zone 7A Posts: 344	What should compost smell like? Ran into a guy that had home made compost and man does it stink. He had all kinds of stuff in with it to include pumpkin, squash, kolorabie & corn on the cob to name just a few. Then add a bunch of leaves ect... My lord what should it smell like?

April 18, 2016	#2
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	finished compost shouldn't stink __________________

April 18, 2016	#4
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	Good compost smells like money... Only way I can describe it...

April 18, 2016	#6
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	My working compost smells very strongly earthy, but not garbage-like.

April 19, 2016	#8
loulac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France Posts: 554	Vegetation needs oxygen to give compost, if there isn't enough it will rot and give a characteristic unpleasant smell. Moving the compost heap from left to right, then from right to left the following month with a fork will give it enough air. Without oxygen the molecules will still break down but it will take at least two years instead of some months.

April 19, 2016	#9
sjamesNorway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Norway Posts: 1,049	I have 2 enclosed bins which heat up, and which I use in alternating years. I only compost plant material, and I aerate it often. The compost just smells good and earthy.

April 19, 2016	#12
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	The unpleasant odor can indicate that he's adding stinky stuff, but in general, stinky compost is compost that has gone anaerobic. It needs to be aired out, and dried out. If it were your own compost, you could do this by turning it and adding more "browns" as you went. Browns are mulch, newspapers, straw, autumn leaves, etc. The stinky odor can mean the browns and greens were not balanced -- excess greens make a stinky mess -- or it could even mean that he's just adding "greens" (kitchen waste, green leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, etc) without covering them up.

April 20, 2016	#13
MrSalvage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: VA - Zone 7A Posts: 344	Thank you all for your posts. Great info here from you guys and gals!

June 12, 2016	#14
Jonnyhat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 337	first year i made this mistake, it smells like death when it goes anerobic, it will still eventually compost, but it takes a lot longer.

June 12, 2016	#15
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I just now saw this thread as old as it is. Compost should smell like a forest floor. Just go out in the woods and scoop up some black soil right under the leaves and smell it. That is what it is supposed to smell like. You can use any kind of animal flop (including human) you want but it better be (hot hot super hot ) compost so it kills the parasites and other types of no no's that are in it. I choose not to use it myself. Worth