Compost pile height

[Peaceful_Warrior]

I've read to avoid compression compost should not be too high. What is the ideal height for a compost pile?

[farmerlon]

A typical recommendation is about 3-6 feet high.
Regardless of the height, the material is going to settle and compress over time; so plan on turning the pile to "fluff" and aerate it (for best results).

[Tonio]

+1, I measured my compost - in 1 week, it shrank 1 foot.
Re piled in the next bin, and it fluffed up about the same volume.
Watered it afterwards, and and in a couple days it started to get smaller again.

Its All in the plan...... min 3x3x3', better 4x4x4' . I suppose that is a start measurement? so YMMV at any given time.


T

[tomc]

Most compost(ers as in people) are more than a little impatient.

The more air that gets mixed into compost the quicker it all breaks down.

All that said, if it was alive, its gonna rot.

So a pile too short takes on the dimension of sheet composting. One stacked much taller than about 4 feet will have all the air pressed out of it.

Neither squat or tall is bad. Neither will make bad compost. The person standing in front of the compost pile may be doing his-her bathroom urgency dance, but the rot is going on acordiing to plan...

[toxcrusadr]

"Bathroom urgency dance" - Ha!

I'm sure that's just an expression, because, of course, going ahead and relieving such an urge right on the pile will actually speed up the composting process.

[tomc]

"Bathroom urgency dance" - Ha!

Please note I didn't tell the author what to do (or not to do) about their dance...

[toxcrusadr]

It is indeed a choice to be made by the individual.

[Halfway]

Seems about 4 feet before it begins to crawl across the yard.

[TexRx]

2 1/2 feet to 5 feet is where ya wanna be at!