Shady location for compost?

I'm planning on composting & wondered about the ideal location - does it matter if the compost site is in the shade?

I'm going to build several "cubes", but the area I've chosen is shaded by trees. Will the results still be good?

 

Composts are best located in the sun, so that they can get hot. It needs heat for the microbes to get going etc, and decompose.

Its not essential but it make it much faster. It just means that the compost will heat up slower and decompose slower. That and turning it (but your making cubes anyway ).

How much shade are you talking though? 0 hours of direct sunlight?

 

The area gets very little direct sunlight due to a number of large trees shading it.

I think I'll give it a try for the next year or so & if results aren't ideal, I'll look to move it.

 

I agree with newbiegreen, composts have to be sited in the sun to do their job.

 

Well that is as maybe, but mine is in the same situation as that described and it works perfectly well. You do need to watch out for lack of water rather than lack of heat.

 

I think composting is all about balance. The best balance means faster compost. It needs water,air primarily. Which creates the heat anyway, sunlight just accelerates the process.

Ie. Paper doesn't decompose without water and air, otherwise we wouldn't have papyrus from the pyramids or newspapers from the 1930s buried and found.

 

Mine are in total shade and make their own heat..........agree with Pal water is all important and don't let them dry out.......Not that it would have done this summer

 

Sorry, but the heat is generated by the process of decomposition, not by exposure to the sun. Else why would there be so much advice to cover the heap with old carpet etc. to keep the heat in. Try this, put a pile of grass cuttings in the shade and leave them. They begin to steam just as quickly as those left in the sun.
The only time our heap has not produced good compost was a few years back when we suffered from a major drought and I did not water the stuff.