{"id":15990,"date":"2021-01-22T15:59:53","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T20:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?page_id=15990"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:24:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:24:27","slug":"soils-and-composting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/ask\/soils-and-composting\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask an Expert FAQs: Soils and Composting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15995 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250.jpg\" alt=\"compost and thermometer\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-300x75.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-768x192.jpg 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-105x26.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-317x79.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-423x106.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-634x159.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-846x212.jpg 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/compost-1000-250-951x238.jpg 951w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Click on the questions below for more details and for the response from our experts.<\/strong> All questions are from Maine home gardeners like you!<\/p>\n<p>Questions are listed in chronological order with the most recent submissions at the top. To view all of the FAQs in this category, go to <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/category\/ask\/soil\/\"> Soils and Composting<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\t<section class=\"feed\" role=\"region\">\n\t\t<ul role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-0\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-0\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2026\/03\/26\/fishing-worms-in-raised-beds\/\">Is it recommended to put worms, like the ones used for fishing bait, in my raised bed?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2026-03-26T18:33:43+00:00\">Published: March 26, 2026<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-1\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-1\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2026\/01\/27\/benefits-of-biochar\/\">I hear about the benefits of biochar. What\u2019s the difference between charcoal and biochar? Which is the blackened wood left unburnt in my wood stove?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2026-01-27T20:09:43+00:00\">Published: January 27, 2026<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-2\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-2\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2025\/06\/06\/is-alfalfa-meal-recommended-for-application-on-flower-beds-and-vegetable-gardens\/\">Is alfalfa meal recommended for application on flower beds and vegetable gardens?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2025-06-06T19:20:54+00:00\">Published: June  6, 2025<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-3\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-3\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2025\/01\/27\/can-i-leave-a-tumbler-style-composter-outside-during-the-winter\/\">Can I leave a tumbler-style composter outside during the winter?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2025-01-27T19:09:40+00:00\">Published: January 27, 2025<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-4\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-4\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2025\/01\/27\/is-there-a-way-to-safely-compost-without-attracting-bears\/\">Is there a way to safely compost without attracting bears?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2025-01-27T19:02:08+00:00\">Published: January 27, 2025<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-5\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-5\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2024\/09\/13\/will-a-soil-test-determine-why-my-seeds-did-not-germinate\/\">Will a soil test determine why my seeds did not germinate?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2024-09-13T16:50:30+00:00\">Published: September 13, 2024<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-6\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-6\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2024\/08\/02\/does-university-of-maine-cooperative-extension-test-plants-for-lead\/\">Does University of Maine Cooperative Extension test plants for lead?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2024-08-02T13:13:52+00:00\">Published: August  2, 2024<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-7\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-7\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2024\/06\/28\/do-you-test-soil-for-toxoplasmosis\/\">Do you test soil for toxoplasmosis?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2024-06-28T18:57:14+00:00\">Published: June 28, 2024<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-8\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-8\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2024\/06\/28\/what-are-some-general-recommendations-for-fertilizing-in-a-limited-space-for-growing-vegetables\/\">What are some general recommendations for fertilizing in a limited space for growing vegetables?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2024-06-28T18:54:43+00:00\">Published: June 28, 2024<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"headline\" aria-level=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"feed-item-heading-9\">\n\t\t<h1 id=\"feed-item-heading-9\" role=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2024\/06\/05\/blueberry-maggots-on-highbush\/\">Will adding compost adversely affect the soil I\u2019m growing vegetables in?<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2024-06-05T13:29:49+00:00\">Published: June  5, 2024<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Click on the questions below for more details and for the response from our experts. All questions are from Maine home gardeners like you! Questions are listed in chronological order with the most recent submissions at the top. To view all of the FAQs in this category, go to Soils and Composting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":0,"parent":13689,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15990","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ask an Expert FAQs: Soils and Composting - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/ask\/soils-and-composting\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ask an Expert FAQs: Soils and Composting - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Click on the questions below for more details and for the response from our experts. 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