Choosing a Garden Compost Bin: Which Model is Right for You?
by M. M. Day | August 26, 2009 | In Composting Bin Basics
If you are thinking about purchasing a garden compost bin, it is likely you may be overwhelmed and confused by the wide variety of makes and models currently on the market. There are a wide variety of different kinds of garden compost bins you can choose from. For example, there is the popular tumbling compost bin models, beautiful wooden compost bins, recycled plastic compost bins, worm compost bins, or compost bins you can build yourself out of wire fencing or used wood pallets.
One of the first decisions you need to make when choosing a garden composting bin model that is right for you is deciding what size will best suit your needs. And this will depend on what kinds and amounts of materials you will be composting. If you are only planning to compost kitchen scraps, a small worm bin may work well for you. But if you have a considerable amount of yard waste that you also want to compost, you will need a much larger garden compost bin model.
The second decision will be whether you will be “hot” composting or “cold” composting. Hot composting requires a bigger pile and you will need to ensure the right combination of brown and green matter in your composting bin. And you will also need to turn and mix the pile often. For hot composting you may want to seriously consider a tumbling compost bin model which will allow you to turn you compost quickly and easily using a hand crank. With hot composting and a tumbling compost bin you can have finished compost in a matter of just weeks.
The cold composting process, on the other hand, can take six months to a year to create compost. But it is also a much less labor intensive method of compost making. You will probably need a larger garden compost bin if you choose the cold method, however, since it will take much longer for the compost to break down.
This raises yet another issue: will you need one bin or multiple bins to handle your composting needs? If you have a small yard, rarely have more than one container of yard waste to dispose of, and choose to leave your lawn clipping on the lawn than a single compost bin may serve your needs. however if you have a medium to large sized yard, want to compost grass clippings, have several trees that drop leaves in the fall, a large vegetable garden or flower beds, and want to make as much compost as you can for use in your garden, then you should certainly consider investing in a garden compost bin systems that is expandable or comes with two or more bins to start.
Regardless of the garden compost bin system you select, be sure that the bins are well aerated and easy to turn (especially if using hot composting methods). For even more tips about garden compost bin, or to see a selection of some of the top examples of the easy to turn rotating compost bin, please visit the Composting Bin Home Page.