How to Troubleshoot Your Compost Pile

Last updated: Aug 05 2026

Key takeaways

A compost pile that is not heating may need more nitrogen-rich material, added moisture, a larger pile, or better aeration.

Bad odors often signal excess moisture or insufficient oxygen; turning the pile and adding dry brown materials can restore balance.

Slow decomposition can result from materials that are too large, so chopping or shredding them increases surface area and speeds breakdown.

There are a few common issues encountered when composting. They include rotten odors, ammonia odors, low internal pile temperatures, and pests like rats, raccoons, and insects.

If your pile develops a rotten odor, then it is likely not getting enough air and/or is too wet. When this happens, check the moisture level. If it is high, then add more course dry materials like straw. If the moisture level is fine, then it is likely poor aeration, meaning the pile needs to be turned.

When your pile develops the smell of ammonia, you have too much nitrogen rich (“green”) material in the pile. Simply mix in more “browns” like straw or sawdust.

Low pile temperatures can be caused by many things, including the pile being too small, not having good aeration, too little moisture, two few nitrogen rich “greens”, and cold weather.

Written by

Abby Healy

Abby is an avid plant lover and the Director of Content at FastGrowingTrees.com. She grew up in Maine, graduated from Davidson College, and now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two dogs. Her previous roles include leading content teams at Red Ventures, a large digital media company, and launching the content and marketing functions at an ecommerce analytics start-up.

While her indoor plant collection is always growing, she also loves landscaping tips and learning more about plant care and maintenance. Her favorite plants are Japanese maples, roses of all kinds, and unique house plants.