Do the covers have to be kept on the piles continuously?
Since hot compost piles release significant amounts of moisture through evaporation, sites that use the turned-windrow method typically only need to protect their active piles during periods of heavy or prolonged precipitation. However, if active piles are covered continuously, they should be monitored regularly and rehydrated (manually or by rainfall) as needed. On the other hand, compost covers are left on curing piles continuously since there is less biological activity and therefore, minimal heat and evaporation.
