[TINTIN]

Should my compost heaps be covered? If so should the cover be water tight i.e plastic bags or should it be porous i.e cardboard or carpet ?

[Poolfield2]

Mine has carpet on but that may not be right, hang on and someone clever that knows this stuff will be along soon

[lincspoacher]

Yes, they need to be covered. Thick Black plastic is the usual stuffz. If you dont cover,  the rain washes out the nutrients into the soil below, and the pile becomes too wet to compost. And the light will get all the weeds going and in three months you'll have the best fed weeds in the country.  But it does need SOME moisture, not to wet, not too dry.  Water it with the hose now and then. Half a  pint of human urine every week also helps it chug along nicely