Compost Pile – White Roots

Q: We have a large compost pile and every time we dig in it the soil is full of what we call angel hair roots. Tiny and white, they grow in it even if we keep pile covered.

A:The tiny root-like things are called hyphae. They are the “roots” of the beneficial fungi that break down your yard waste to make compost. There is no problem having them in a compost pile. They will quickly regrow after you turn the pile but will disappear when mixed into a new landscape bed.