One of the essential elements of every garden is the compost heap! They are not difficult to create or maintain and, as well as being environmentally friendly, will save you a fortune in bought compost. Let’s take a look at choosing your compost bin as there are various different options available…
You can buy your compost bin or you can make it yourself. You can opt for big ones, small ones, plastic ones, wooden ones, basic ones, pretty ones., etc. A compost bin is basically a box, so we don’t need to get too carried away, but it’s worth taking a bit of time when choosing your compost bin to make sure it fits your requirements and location in your garden.
Choosing your compost bin: Stationary Compost Bins
Stationary compost bins are well suited to gardeners who have less time to dedicate to their compost heap. They will usually have four enclosed walls and a lid and the compost materials will be added and left.
Some stationary compost bins are narrow and make it difficult to turn the compost. When choosing your compost bin you might want to go for a bin that is wide enough to allow you to get in with your fork and turn it.
Unturned stationary compost heaps will compost down eventually, but this will be a slower process than with a heap that has been regularly turned. As with every compost heap, always aim for a nice balance of nitrogen-rich materials and brown carbon-rich materials.
Choosing your compost bin: Multiple Compost Bins
Multiple compost bins are usually a set up of three (or more) bins in close proximity to facilitate the moving of the compost between the bins during the different stages of its decomposition. Regular turning gets more oxygen into the heap and helps make it hotter, meaning that it will compost faster and better.
You start by adding your fresh materials to your first bin. When that bin is full and the material is starting to decompose, you move it across to the second bin, and so on. By the time the material arrives in the final bin, it will be beautiful compost ready to use as and when you need it.
When choosing your compost bin you might want to go for a bigger set up like this when you have sufficient space and more time and energy to devote to your garden.
Choosing your compost bin: Tumbling Compost Bins
When choosing your compost bin you may also wish to consider using tumbling compost bins. These are bins that are set up to rotate on an elevated frame to facilitate easy, regular turning of the composting material.
Tumbling compost bins are an fast and effective way to compost material fast. You will be able to ensure that your heap is consistently well aerated which is one of the key factors in creating quality organic matter.
And if you place your tumbling compost bin in a sunny spot, you will find the composting process works even quicker!
What kind of compost bin do you use? Have you tried other methods? What do you recommend? Please leave your comments below.