Karen, I line my bins with corrugated cardboard. Not all the way around and the cardboard raised up from the ground a little. I think that by doing so moderates flow of air, moisture and heat. I used to cover with plastic to prevent heavy rain from drenching but donÂt bother anymore. I wouldnÂt wrap with plastic because you need air to enter the pile. I recall a recent post where someone used carpet on the top of their bins. I thought it was a good idea. If your piles donÂt heat up after turning, then they probably need more greens, or the moisture is off.
Bill Hill
{{gwi:109867}}

Thanks for the tips and photo, Bill. I have some carpet in the basement so I'll whack off some for the tops of the bins. I'll try your cardboard lining trick and see if that helps. That should help keep the dog out of the bins too. I'm sure I have plenty of greens, so I'll keep a closer watch on the moisture level. Thanks much!
Karen

Some kind of cover over your compost pile can aid you in controlling moisture levels, but wrapping the pile in something that greatly restricts air flow is not a good idea since air is very important in the composting process and that is also why the cover can be a significant aid by keeping excess water, which displaces air, out of the pile.

I built a small (4'X 2.5') compost bin from scrap planks with small spaces to allow air circulation. Using floating crop cover to cover. You can get this at most garden centers. Some carry it in rolls 10' wide that can be cut to needed length. It also comes in precut packages of 12' or so. It allows light, moisture and light. While I use it as floating crop cover for tomatoes to protect from frost, it can be left on all year. Good for compost cover since it helps retain heat and allows air circulation as well as moisture.

If your bin is in the shade, you don't need a lid. If it's in the sun you certainly do. Sun means evaporation, and drying ouy is the #1 reason for composting failure. Regards, Peter.

A cover on a compost pile will aid in keeping excess rain from saturating your compost, keep that compost from getting too wet. That is the only reason you would need one, to control the moisture in the pile. A cover over your compost pile will not do much to control moisture loss from evaporation, my compost piles loose moisture, the steam that arises when they are very active, by evaporation all the time.
The floating row covers allow rain to flow through so they would not be a good cover to aid in moisture control. Plastic, since it is impervious, can restrict air flow enough to make that an undesirable cover also, as would be the tarps.

On occasion I cover some bins depending on the season and the weather. A loose fitting tarp on top and on the sides works very well for my situation. A covering during the fall helps retain heat and moisture and also provides a cover for the snow that accumulates over the winter. I often put layered cardboard under the tarp in the fall for insulation, gives me that few extra weeks of decomposing into the winter.

I've also used paper leaf bags on a smaller bin to keep moisture in but it really depends on the weather.

Lloyd

Keoszone:

1) Do you have a compost thermometer so that you can tell how hot the core is getting? Not a requirement, but a very good use of $15, especially for a beginner.

2) What are the dimentions of your pile? (I use a four foot diameter, 18" or 24" high, which I have found works just as well the often-quoted '3x3x3', and is easier on my back.) If you are using a small bin, say 2.5' by 2.5', your heat won't last as long as a larger bin.

3) What are your ingredients? Do you have an idea of a good C:N ratio for your mix?