Turning a Backyard Hot Compost Pile With a Spading Fork: Turn When the Center Cools, Keep It Damp, and Watch for 160°F
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A hot pile slows down once the microbes in the center use up the oxygen. Turning it with a spading fork moves fresh material into the core and starts the heat again. When should you turn a backyard compost pile? Turn the pile when the center starts to cool, roughly weekly while it is active. Move the outside material into the middle and add water if it feels dry. Turn sooner if the core passes about 140°F, since heat near 160°F kills the decomposers. NC State Extension's composting chapter says to turn the pile when the center begins to feel cool to the touch. It says a pile that is not mixed may take three to four times longer to finish. Cornell's compost temperature fact sheet says decomposition is fastest between 90 and 140°F . It says piles above 160°F can sterilize themselves, and turning above 140°F helps prevent that and t...