What Are the Benefits of Aerating Compost?

Faster Decomposition

• Aerating your compost redistributes beneficial bacteria, and gives them a more favorable environment to grow in. This speeds the breakdown of the materials in the pile, giving you useful compost more quickly. Turning the compost also moves material from the outer part of your compost heap to the center, exposing it to higher temperatures and allowing the material to decompose evenly.

Odor Reduction

• The rotting odors that sometimes occur with compost are usually a sign that bacteria and other microorganisms are breaking down the material in an oxygen-poor environment. Aerating the compost ensures that the microorganisms have oxygen to work with. Aeration also prevents buildup of gases formed by the breakdown process. Regular aeration allows the gas to escape in small quantities instead of collecting in larger quantities that create a much stronger odor.

Moisture Requirements

• Aeration reduces the amount of moisture needed for proper composting. Water and air compete for space in your compost pile, with very moist compost having less oxygen available for beneficial bacteria to use. For best results, turn compost daily if the initial moisture content is more than 70 percent; every two days if the moisture content is between 60 and 70 percent, and every three days with 40 to 60 percent initial moisture.

Fly Control

• Flies around your compost can become a real nuisance without preventive measures. Fly larvae often seek out cooler portions of the compost pile, where they can grow undisturbed. Aeration helps to keep the temperature of your compost even, eliminating cool areas where fly larvae might grow. If you combine aeration with grinding, shredding or chopping the material in your compost into pieces 2 inches long or less, your compost heap will be unfriendly to fly larvae development. Turning the compost every two to three days is generally sufficient to reduce or eliminate fly problems.