Garden Compost Bin – 3 Things to Look For
A garden compost bin is a good choice for the gardener who has a bit of space and an ample budget. Within this category of bins you’ll find a few options.
Enclosed Bins
(Note: For the gardener who has no budget, an enclosed compost bin can be made by drilling air holes into a large, plastic garbage can.)
At the lower end of the price range is a basic enclosed bin. A no-fuss no-muss choice for the gardener who has limited space and a tight budget. When selecting an enclosed been, look for:
A simple, streamlined appearance. In tighter spaces these understated bins can easily blend into the surroundings so as not to announce, “Look at me, I’m a compost bin!”
A tight fitting lid. Make sure the lid closes enough to keep the rain and critters out. One thing to mention is that the smell of decomposition naturally attracts all kinds of critters. We want to be sure to have a way to keep them out.
Low Maintenance. We’re not looking for anything fancy, no turning cranks or wheels to attend to.
While price is nice with this option, it should be noted that compost can take a bit longer to mature in this basic bin. Remember, frequent oxygenation speeds the decomposition process.
Rolling Bins
For those gardeners who want their compost to ripen quicker and who have a bit more money to spend, a good option would be a rolling compost bin.
Like the name implies, this bin is shaped to be rolled around. This makes it easy to mix it up every day and aerate it. It can also be rolled to the house, loaded up with organic material, then rolled around to the backyard.
It’s a convenient choice, although when fully loaded may become too heavy and a bit hard for some to roll.
Compost Tumblers
These units are a popular choice among many gardeners because the compost tumblers address three common problems many gardeners have with making their own compost.
Lack of space – Most units are suspended on their own support bars so they are turned in place. Think of a rotisserie. And this rotisserie is usually on wheels making the whole thing very portable and easy to move around the yard and garden.
Too hard to turn – Unlike turning compost with a pitchfork or rolling around a large compost rolling bin, these tumblers are easy to turn by a crank. Even the young and not-so-young find it easy to turn this kind of compost bin, making it a smart choice for a family garden project.
Decomposition is too slow – Because of the ease of turning your compost, sufficient aeration ensures bacteria receives enough oxygen to break down the organic material.
On the down side, Tumblers can be a bit pricey so they may not be the right choice for everyone.
Related Posts:
Organic Vegetable Garden – Growing Organic Vegetables the Easy Way
Home Composting – Composting 101
Kitchen Compost Bin – Please Don’t Try To Make One
Worm Compost Bin – Worms Are Cool
How To Use Compost – No Digging Involved
Organic Tips – 5 Tips For A Successful Organic Garden