It will deter pests, hold in heat, and keep the moisture level more constant. A pile that s dry or too water-logged takes a very long time to break down. You can use a tarp, piece of plastic, hunk of old carpet, or piece of metal roofing. In northern states, cover your pile in late fall to avoid leaching nutrients and to prevent the pile from becoming water-logged. A drier pile will thaw more quickly the following spring.
Seedlings are very susceptible to bacteria that are harmless to more mature plants.
Shredded materials compost very rapidly. The more surface area for microbes to attack, the sooner you ll have usable compost. You can chop your materials with a machete or shovel, run them through a shredding machine, or run over them with your lawn mower. Piles larger than 5 feet by 5 feet may not allow enough air to reach the center. If fruit flies are a problem indoors, your compost container is probably not airtight.