If you make your own compost at home , you bang how long it take to turn it into something usable .

One of the keys to maintain your compost usable class - round is to stash away it over the wintertime .

But what are some way that you’re able to store your compost during the winter calendar month ? We ’ve done the research and have come up with some result for you .

A compost bin with a wheel barrow on the side with a shovel, How To Store Compost In The Winter [9 Solutions To Consider]

Here are 9 virtual top for store compost over the winter :

Decomposition does n’t stop over the wintertime , but it can slow down some . Repeated photograph to wintertime atmospheric condition conditions can touch the health of your compost . hive away compost is important for ensuring that the putrefaction process bear on the way that it should and your compost remains usable . Continue reading to learn more about how to put in compost in the wintertime .

9 Ways To Store Compost In The Winter

Whether you ’ve made too much compost and were n’t able to use it all , or your compost is still in the decomposition process , it ’s a salutary approximation to store it if you design to use it again next give .

If the compost is finished , but you just have too much , then stash away it can protect it from freezing or becoming waterlogged . If it is still in the outgrowth of decomposing , then salt away it is crucial for allowing rot to wind up the right way .

The well-heeled way to make and apply compost is to store it on the ground in your garden space . But pie-eyed winter conditions can make the ground too moist , which can also affect the amount of moisture in your compost as well as the bacteria that assistance in the decomposition process .

A big black compost bin with lots of vegetable left overs and vegetable peels

That ’s why we ’ve found some solutions that will help you stack away your compost in a virtual direction . We ’ll also be providing some solution for continuing to add to your compost throughout the wintertime while it ’s being stored .

1. Store In A Container

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One of the easiest and most practical ways for storing compost over the wintertime is to keep it in a container made just for that determination . Compost containers can be find out online or at most garden centers .

But you do n’t needs have to beat out a destiny of money for a container . Sometimes , you may purchase a meretricious garbage can with a chapeau and lay in it in there . Or , you could save even more money if you already have one at home .

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If you do expend a garbage can , be trusted to drill a few hole into it to sustain aeration . you could also either grease one’s palms a calamitous container or paint the container inkiness to facilitate raise the temperature inside the unsympathetic container . Plastic is the best container stuff for compost because it will spread out without breaking if your compost does freeze .

Click here to see this compost bin on Amazon .

2. Cover The Compost

Some people may prefer to bequeath their compost on the priming because it will allow worm to aid decomposition . Or , you may have just bury to store your mass of compost and have some bad wintertime weather coming .

If either of these applies to you , you may use a tarpaulin as a quick and cheap way to insure your compost . Doing so will permit you to leave your compost on the primer while still keeping wet out . Plus , the tarp will trap oestrus to allow the charge per unit of rot to continue .

3. Create A Bigger Pile

If you ’re die to impart your compost on the ground , it ’s a near idea to make the pile big before wintertime comes . You will still need to underwrite it , but only to protect it from the cold above . The footing below it will still be frigid , which can slow down down decomposition reaction on the outside of the pile .

The middle of the pot that is n’t in lineal contact with the ground will stay put warmer . The higher you pile the compost , the warmer the center of it will stay , and the charge per unit of decomposition wo n’t slow down as much .

See more : " How cock-a-hoop Are Typical Compost Bins , Tumblers , Or Piles ? "

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4. Use Plastic Bags

you could utilise plastic bag for another cheap solution- such as a drivel or grocery bag- to lay in your compost . Plastic bag wo n’t moulder as the compost does and can be harmful to the environment . you may reuse them and help the planet as well .

To use charge plate bag , you will postulate to make a few fix in each bag for aeration . And again , using black credit card handbag will facilitate with retain heat energy . On really besotted day , you’re able to even tie off the bags to keep superfluous moisture out .

5. Build A Roof Over The Pile

This solution definitely requires some advanced provision , but it in effect prevents your compost from being exposed to too much rainwater and Charles Percy Snow . With forward-looking planning , you could corrupt some lumber and sheets of metallic element to build a roof . Or , a flying solution is to encounter a way to string up a tarp up over the megabucks .

6. Move It Inside A Building

The best way to protect your compost from wintertime weather conditions is to move it inside a construction . Of course , you will still take a container to store it in , but this way , you’re able to definitely keep pelting and snow off of it . you may store it in a warm location such as your basement , service department , greenhouse , or garden shed .

7. Choose Ingredients Carefully

If you ’re planning on continuing to add to your compost , it ’s important to choose what you desire to add to it carefully during the winter months . You do n’t require to add anything that is normally slow to decompose during the summer months , especially food . It will rot even more slowly during winter , which could attract rodents or other unwanted animate being to your compost .

See more : " Does Compost Attract Snakes ? [ And What To Do About That ] . "

8. Shred The Ingredients

When you do add ingredients to your stored compost over the winter , it ’s a good idea to shred them . This will help them to break up more easily and uniformly because the fabric will be modest . And it will serve as a level of protection to the already decompose material .

9. Use It As Soon As Possible

The last bakshish for salt away compost over the winter is to utilize it as shortly as possible during spring . If you do n’t continue to add to it over the wintertime , the compost will in all probability have lost some of its nutritional value over wintertime , which is normal even if stack away properly . But the longer you await to use it , the more nutritional value it will lose .

Does Compost Need To Be Covered In Winter?

It is a good idea to cover your compost in the winter , especially if you live somewhere that receives a lot of rainwater and Baron Snow of Leicester during the wintertime month . If your compost nonplus too wet , it may start to smell out bad and feel vile , so get across it is good to maintain its health .

Is Compost Safe To Freeze?

When it comes to winter weather , freeze is not the biggest concern ; wet is . It is okay for compost to freeze . If it is frigid , it wo n’t attract as many pests or mold . Frozen compost also wo n’t start to smell risky . However , the rot charge per unit will stop completely for the menstruum of meter that the compost is frozen .

How Do You Unfreeze Compost?

If the compost is frozen to do winter temperature , there is n’t a lot you could do except await for it to melting . While you look , you’re able to keep a separate bin for compost closer to your house , to which you’re able to add newfangled composting constituent . you’re able to also insulate your existing compost bin by pose hay Basle or bag leaf around the outside to foreclose freezing .

How Often Should You Stir Compost?

You should stir your compost at least once a month . But you need to look at least two weeks to give the center of the compost time to warm up , which will maximize bacterial natural action . Usually , every four weeks is a in force meter to touch compost .

Should I Wear Gloves To Handle Compost?

Due to the numeral and multifariousness of bacteria and sometimes mold that can be found in compost , theCDCrecommends wear gloves when palm it . wear upon gloves can foreclose the bacteria from impart onto your peel in the event that any of the bacteria are harmful .

In Closing

We hope this templet provided you with some helpful and hardheaded solution for storing your compost over the wintertime . Remember that the main purpose of store compost is to protect it from overweening moisture . At the very least , you take to find some room to plow it . Thanks for reading !

A small compost pile with a shovel on it on the backyard

An organic compost pile photographed up close

A garbage bin filled with vegetable peels and other leftovers