Composting requires the right balance of new materials, water and heat to keep the microorganisms in your pile healthy and happy. Adobe Stock Image When gardeners ...

The heat not only breaks down the material in the pile but also kills the pathogens you don’t want there. Most organisms can’t survive a compost pile’s peak temperatures, which can reach about 170 ...

When winter rolls around, it’s easy to let composting slide. The cold can make it feel like nothing will break down, but there are actually plenty of useful scraps you can still toss in your pile.

"In mild-winter climates, winter is one of the best times to compost," says master gardener Angela Judd. "Falling leaves give you plenty of browns, garden clean-up adds greens, and a well-layered pile ...