One of the most important components of successful compost production is the presence of sufficient amount of air.

Too little or too much will cause your compost materials to decompose too fast or too slow, thus, virtually defeating the purpose of the whole activity. Or at least, you will need to restack the whole pile.

You also need to learn how to aerate compost for many reasons. For one thing, aerating re-heats the compost heap and keeps it in an aerobic state. This is very important in the decomposition process as air keeps the brown and green materials burning, so to speak. For another thing, turning eliminates and solves many composting problems such as bad odors and large partially decomposed materials.

Turn Regularly

The general rule is that the compost pile must be turned once every 7-10 days although the type of pile will affect said rule. If you have a batch pile, you need to turn every 2-3 days for the first 2 weeks and then just once weekly for the succeeding 4-8 weeks. If you have an add-as-you-go pile, you have to turn it every few time as the scraps are mixed in or when the pile appears matted than it should be. Always remember to seal the top of the compost pile with soil and other brown materials so as to hide the food scraps from unwanted insects and animals.

Use the Correct Tools

The tips on how to aerate compost will not be complete without mention of the appropriate tools. These will keep you safe from insect bites as well as make the work easier and faster. You can either use a garden fork and shovel or purchase a compost aerator tool, either of which will do the work just fine.

You must thoroughly turn the inner part of the compost pile out into the sides of the bin and turn the outer parts of the compost heap into the center. This process will allow the cooler compost materials to provide heat to the center.

Or you can always transfer the pile from one bin to another or from one location to another. This is especially true when the compost pile is ready for use.

Check Moisture

Before turning the compost pile, always check for the moisture level by taking a handful of the compost and squeezing normally. It should have the consistency of a wrung-out sponge - wet but not dripping with water. If it is too wet, you need to spread the materials to dry them or mix in dry brown materials like straw and leaves. It also helps to transfer your pile into a well-drained location. If it is too dry, you have to water layers every 6 to 12 inches during the compost pile's initial building stages. You should also spray water when turning the compost pile until it attains the desired moisture level.

When you know how to aerate compost, you are assured of an organic fertilizer that will provide for abundant crops, save the environment from chemical fertilizer run-off and lessen your planting costs. All these benefits because you took the time to turn your compost pile!