How to use compost bins and tumblers efficiently

May 13
08:03

2011

Alexandru Chiuariu

Alexandru Chiuariu

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Composting is one of the standards of responsible garden care and the growth of healthy flowers and vegetables.

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Composting is the environmentally responsible way of providing high quality soil to the areas in your garden where the plants need it and avoid filling landfills with grass clippings and other vegetative waste. The traditional way to compost is by using a three- bin system,How to use compost bins and tumblers efficiently  Articles where each bin is three cubic feet, that is three feet high, three feet wide and three feet in depth. The first part is the one where the material is just beginning to decompose, the second is partway through the process and the third is ready to be used in the garden.

 

The compost bins and tumblers are a way to do the same process in a shorter amount of time. The compost tumblers or bins have several characteristics in common, they are made of high quality plastic that usually is dark in color; they all have air holes for essential airflow; and they need to be mixed either by a handle or by using a garden fork for the compost bins. The plant material that is being transformed into compost needs to be at the proper temperature and dampness for the best effects of decomposition.

 

The materials placed in the SoilSaver compost bin or tumbler are done so in layers, with a layer of what is called brown material, this consists of dry plant matter such as dry straw, leaves or grass. The next layer is usually some dirt and the green matter is added next. This gives the whole mixture a blend of material such as would ordinarily occur in the natural cycle of decay. The moisture level should be about that of a wet sponge for the best results. To use a compost bin or Envirocycle compost tumbler most effectively it needs the right mixture of ingredients, enough air and moisture which combined with time will result in perfect addition to make certain your garden is at the best it can be for producing wonderful vegetables and flowers that will be some of the best you have tasted. 

 

One of the components of good composting is the vegetable remains that are saved from the kitchen and placed into a compost keeper before adding them to the big compost bin or tumbler. If you are using worm composting along with your regular composting, the addition of these will speed the process up. Grass clippings are a great idea, especially if you do not use pesticides on them. It is also important not to allow any weed seeds as they can live through the composting process and then invade your flowerbeds and garden area, causing a greater problem and if you have some rotten leaves or mulch from spring-cleaning in your yard, toss it into the compost bin. The microorganisms will assist in the process of turning the mixture into compost. When you utilize the compost bins and tumblers efficiently, they will reward you with a nutrient rich deposit of soil that provides the plants with what they need to grow strong and healthy.