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Generally you'd expect a compost heap to be about three feet across and two or three feet high. Much smaller than that and whatever you're composting will probably not heat up into "fast compost", but will simply decompose slowly, the way leaves decompose on a forest floor.

That being said, it is perfectly legitimate to create "sheet compost" over a garden area rather than building a specific compost heap. To do that, you layer organic mulch thickly on top of whatever area you want to benefit from the compost (obviously not on top of tiny seeds or seedlings, though) and simply wait a year or more for it to break down into compost where it lies.

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13y ago
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11y ago

A good size for a compost pile is about 1 cubic meter. If it is to small it might not warm up at all and will not compost properly.

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Q: How big does a compost pile need to be?
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Related questions

What is the difference between compost pile and compost pit?

A compost pile is compost in a pile or heap. a compost pit is compost in a pit or hole in the ground.


What organisms need to be a part of a compost pile?

Decomposers.


Where does the energy in a compost pile come from?

Carbon is the source of energy in a compost pile. Compost piles need to have brown and green materials, which are respectively carbon- and nitrogen-rich. Green materials provide the pile's decomposition-friendly micro-organisms with proteins.


What is the difference between a compost heap and a compost pit?

A compost heap is a pile of composting material that is in a pile on the ground. A compost pit is dug into the ground and the composting material is placed in it.


What is the method of recycling biodegradable waste?

compost pile


Where can someone find out how to build a compost pile?

Someone can find out how to build a compost pile on the website Ehow. Also one can try the websites Ask, Yahoo Answers, and wiki.answers to see how to build a compost pile.


Why compost produce heat?

benefit of the compost pile generating heat


Why are fertilizer and limestone added to a compost pile?

Adding nutrients and altering the pH are reasons for adding fertilizer and limestone to a compost pile. But if proper procedure is being followed under appropriate conditions, the compost pile needs no such supplements.


How do you compost cardboard?

tear the cardboard into small pieces and add it to your compost pile.


How does heat affect a compost pile?

Heat and Moisture break down the compost.


Can you add sugar to the compost pile?

Yes, you can add sugar to compost pile as long as you sprinkle it around, so it does not all settle at the bottom.


How can you make compost by using machines?

A Big compost pile. If for example you were cleaning out a horse barn, cow barn or chicken barn you could pile all the manure, old hay and straw using a skid loader. Make it a nice long row of compost about 4 to 6 feet high and 4 to 6 feet wide and as long as you want. Come back to the pile every 2 or 3 weeks and flip it with the skid loader to let more air into it. You will have nice compost in no time. If you want to have good compost you will need to push all your manure into a liquid pit. Then you will need to pump the liquid manure into a separator, which will make the manure have a moisture of 40-60%. This is then to be piled up in a stock pile until hauled to a field to be piled into windrows. You will pile it as high as your windrow turner is. Your then to check the temperature of the manure, when it reaches 145-165 Degrees you need to turn the pile with a windrow turner. Add water as needed to keep the compost between 40 and 60%. After a period of 90 days it should be ready. You will now take all the compost in the wind row and pile it in a stock pile, let it sit for 30 days to cure. After this 30 days it then can be marketed after you get the soil samples from it.