Symptoms and Causes Compost should have a slight smell of "wet leaves in autumn" If the compost is very wet, then anaerobic decompostion can occur, giving an ammonia or sulphury smell Compost has become compacted so there is not enough air The wrong micro-organisms have developed as their living conditions are wrong

Possible Solutions Composting is an aerobic process - it needs air (but a balance is needed - not too much air or the compost will dry out) Turn the compost to assist aeration and reduce compaction If grass has gone soggy, add torn up newspaper or other "brown" ingredients such as more shredded woody stuff

Remember
Always try to balance the "greens" and the "browns" in your heap.
Always put an equal amount of shredded newsapaper in the heap with your grass cuttings
Compost needs a small amount of management - remember you are trying to grow moulds, fungi and worms !

And, read our general compost information pages