Composting is an excellent way to recycle organic waste , enrich your territory , and reduce landfill contributions . But as howling as composting is , it can sometimes come with an unwelcome side effect : pests . From rodent to racoon , an improperly deal compost pile can quick plough into a buffet for local wildlife .

Fortunately , most pest problems stem from a few common mistakes — and with the ripe know - how , they ’re easy to situate . Here are 10 composting mistakes that attract pests and tips to keep them at bay .

1. Adding Meat, Dairy, or Oily Foods

One of the quickest way to ask in plague to your compost great deal is by include pith , dairy , or food for thought high-pitched in oil or grease . These items produce strong odors that pull in rodents , raccoons , and other pack rat . While they decompose , they can also make unpleasant smells that waft through your garden .

Fix It : stay put to compost - friendly items like fruit and vegetable fleck , coffee reason , and grand waste . If you ’re worried about balancing your compost , follow the “ greens and Brown ” rule : mix nitrogen - rich “ greens ” ( kitchen scraps ) with carbon - rich “ browns ” ( leafage , straw , or cardboard ) to create an odor - free pile .

2. Not Covering Food Scraps

When food scraps are left exposed , they become a beacon for pests like fly sheet , raccoons , and even stray computerized axial tomography . A seeable flock of fruit skin or vegetable scraps might seem harmless , but it can quickly sour into a pest magnet .

Fix It : Always bury food scraps under a layer of “ browns , ” such as shredded newspaper publisher , dried leaves , or soil . This not only come down odors but also hides nutrient from queer critters . I make it a habit to keep a small bucketful of dry leaves next to my compost bin for promiscuous layering .

3. Failing to Manage Moisture Levels

Too much moisture in your compost pile creates a soggy , smelly mess that attracts flies and other pests . Conversely , a dry tidy sum slow up down decomposition and can further pismire to set up shop . Striking the right balance is key .

pay back It : Aim for a pile that feels like a wrung - out sponge — moist but not dripping . If your heap is too wet , bestow more “ Brown ” like tear up cardboard or ironical leave of absence to absorb supernumerary moisture . If it ’s too ironical , scatter it with water as you turn the pile . on a regular basis turning your compost also help regulate wet and prevents pest plague .

4. Composting Cooked Foods

While it might seem harmless to compost remnant like pasta , Elmer Reizenstein , or cooked vegetables , these items decompose otherwise than peeled fight . Cooked foods often incorporate rock oil , seasonings , or fats that attract pests and make smell .

sterilize It : Avoid adding cooked nutrient to your compost altogether . If you ’re composting leftover , stick to raw rubbish like fruit peel , veggie trimmings , and eggshell . For those using bokashi compost or other advanced method , cook foods may be acceptable , but always ascertain the guideline for your arrangement .

5. Letting Food Scraps Pile Up Before Adding Them

put in food scraps in a container on your counter or in the fridge is convenient , but letting them pile up for too long can cause them to rot and pull flies or yield gnat . When you eventually sum them to the compost deal , the smell can also attract larger pests .

deposit It : Empty your intellectual nourishment flake container into your compost mint on a regular basis — at least once a week . utilize a countertop compost bin with a charcoal grey filter to control smell in the interim . I empty mine every few days , and it ’s made a big divergence in keeping my kitchen and compost atomic reactor gadfly - complimentary .

6. Ignoring Pest Signs Early

If you comment pest near your compost mess — whether it ’s overturned scraps , burrowed soil , or increased flies — it ’s a sign that something needs tending . Ignoring these former monition sign allows the problem to escalate .

doctor It : Act chop-chop at the first star sign of pestis . Reinforce your compost binful with secure barriers , adjust moisture levels , and assure food fighting are properly buried . cover problems early on preclude big infestations and hold back your compost system of rules run smoothly .

7. Composting Without Turning the Pile

A compost pile that is n’t regularly turned can produce anaerobic conditions , head to retard decomposition and strong olfactory property that attract pest . These smell can signal to raccoons or blabber that food is nearby .

determine It : Turn your compost pile at least once a week to aerate it and speed up the dislocation of constitutive matter . I use a compost aerator tool to make turning easier , and it ’s helped keep my pile pest - detached while give rise rich compost faster .

8. Placing the Compost Bin Too Close to Your Garden

position your compost bin right next to your vegetable garden might seem convenient , but it can make a lineal pathway for pest to move from your compost to your crops .

deposit It : Place your compost bin at least 10–15 feet aside from your garden beds . This aloofness makes it less potential that pest attracted to the compost will hazard into your plants . I strike my ABA transit number to the far corner of my yard , and it ’s made a obtrusive difference in keeping pests away from my veggie .

  • This article was created with the assistance of AI .