What Are Compost Tumblers?

Compost tumblers come in a variety of sizes, models, and prices. A trip to your local home and garden center will provide a variety of choices. Compost tumblers stay closed up. In hot weather, the compost stays damp longer and doesn't dry out. Compost tumblers will produce compost within 14 days provided the mixture is kept moist and turned 2-3 times per day. Compost bins, at a minimum, will take at least 1 month to produce rich, broken down compost and they require far more energy to achieve the same result.

How They Work

Compost tumblers work by letting lots of air in which speeds up the process but are expensive. Ideally the heat in the heap should reach 60C to kill diseases, perennial weeds and weed seeds, but a cold heap will work OK if you don?t include any perennial weeds. Compost tumblers retain more moisture than open compost piles. If the material seems too moist, leave the door open a while and if it is too dry add a little water, tumbling the contents after every addition.

Ideally Compost tumblers can speed up and eliminate at least part of the harder work of fast or "hot" composting. The microorganisms that do the actual composting work can be considered the livestock of the compost ranch. Compost tumblers are great because they allow you to 'turn' and aerate by 'tumbling'. They don't take up a lot of space and can easily be hidden behind a bush or in the side alley of a house where it is less obtrusive. Compost tumblers will produce compost within 14 days provided the mixture is kept moist and turned 2-3 times per day. Compost bins, at a minimum, will take at least 1 month to produce rich, broken down compost and they require far more energy to achieve the same result.

Tumblers Are Versatile

Compost tumblers are great for your excess outdoor garden trimmings, but there is something else called a worm bin that you need for your excess kitchen scraps. A properly designed worm bin has several levels whereby worms can travel freely to and from. Compost tumblers offer a reasonable and effective alternative to the compost pile. And while the claims of some compost tumblers to produce compost in as little as 13 days may be slightly exaggerated, they do offer several benefits over the standard compost heap and they actually can accelerate the decomposition process because of their convenience.

Compost tumblers You have probably seen these on Internet or at your local garden shop. Basically, they are a round tub, mounted on a frame, or base, designed to turn compost and speed development.

Compost tumblers are perfect if space is limited, or city bylaws do not permit open compost bins. They are also ideal if you have a small garden and do not need a large bin. They offer a reasonable and effective alternative to the compost pile. And while the claims of some compost tumblers to produce compost in as little as 13 days may be slightly exaggerated, they do offer several benefits over the standard compost heap and they actually can accelerate the decomposition process because of their convenience. Compost Tumbler Instead of bagging up all those pretty fall leaves and stacking them out at the curb, turn them into compost, and save energy and landfill space.