Compost bins can remove loads of waste and make loads of garden compost - a clean nutritious soil improver. All gardens thrive on garden compost - all soil types improve.
My best continuous recycling bin is here & my big heap is here - I explain more on each page. I prefer these to drum or tumbler bins, but these have advantages too that I explain. My drum compost bin saves liquid compost.

What I've leaned about Continuous composters, Drum & tumbler composters and Traditional timber composters is on these page links. Advertising Feature: UK Gardeners will find a nice selection of composting equipment at EvenGreener composters . You'll also find what you need for Worm Composting . Expert Book - The World's Best Compost by Rod Turner

ANNUAL COMPOST BIN CYCLE

• AUTUMN - sweep autumn leaves into bags and containers to make leaf mold or for composting later on.
• Vegetable kitchen scraps, old plants and flowers provide continuous small amounts to compost.
• SPRING - skim annual weeds into composter. Mix fresh grass with autumn leaves to make compost pile, ready by summer for autumn gardening. TIP: Spread leaves on lawn to mow into grass cuttngs.
• SUMMER - Green manures nettles and comfrey cut from spring onwards keeps compost bin fired up.
• In July / August cut hedges and shred into bags.
• LATE SUMMER - Grass resumes growth. Mix cuttings with soft shredded hedge trimmings for an ideal green/brown mix for the compost bin. See Compost Tumbler Bins for autumn ready compost.

Compost bins, worm bins and other techniques enable you to recycle on-site to get the nutrient value all over again - no noise, fuss, or carriage to recycling centres. Let's start with compost making bins.

Different types of compost bin are used with different composting methods. My notes on the links below explain these methods.

They really do work like this V

MOULDED CONTINUOUS COMPOSTERS

My Dad wouldn’t recognise my 'space-age' composter. On this link I explain the advantages and practicalities of using these modern continuous composters - I've describe how they suit different needs.
Continuous compost bins explained on this link.

Moulded bins, have had many new and improved designs. ++++++

TUMBLER COMPOSTERS

Check these on my special page about bins that rotate to turn the whole heap, aerate and speed decomposition. Advantages and use of tumbler compost bins are explained on this link.

Is Plastic Any Good For Compost Bins? Nowadays compost bins can be made from re-cycled plastic which has many good properties:-

• can be moulded to useful shapes faciliating new innovative designs e.g. tumbler compost bins.
• can be a ready-made single piece that's easily moved around to new locations.
• heap totally enclosed keeps cool winds out, but can also have smart vents.
• tight fitting lids and internal condensation retains moisture inside; some designs save liquid compost tea. Keeps out excess rain water.
• the often smaller convenient size contributes to lower temperatures. But finely shredded material packed wall to wall heats up well.
• are tough, durable, and maintenance free.

About Traditional Composters Made Of Wood: on this link.

My explanatory notes (free to read by clicking the link) deal with the basics, so you can better understand the composting process and adapt a method to your needs.

What can you compost? : To find a list of organic materials to compost try the next link. It also gives appropriate treatment methods for each kind of material. Garden & domestic material for composting

I think you'll agree - the worst part of mowing the lawn is not pushing the mower, but emptying the grass box; and the worst part of cutting the hedge is not the cutting, but gathering up the clippings.

...and with that in mind you probably put off doing the jobs. So let me introduce you to some tools and methods to make all these jobs easier.

Collecting material for composting: First, here's a few very handy tools to help you collect your garden waste and make the hard work easier.

Worm Composting: Specialised worm composting bins are useful if you don’t have a garden but grow house plants, or when you want to make compost for plant containers or seedlings. Different types of bin can bring different results. Find out how to make worm compost and the best worm bin design to use. How to make worm compost

Use garden compost effectively and efficiently: With just a few compost bins, gardeners can rarely make enough to go around. So find how to economise and prioritise compost distribution. This link gives details on how to distribute and apply compost.

Seed compost 50:50 mix of gutter grit & composted wood

Mix your own seed and potting compost: You can make your own seed and potting compost out of ready to hand organic ingredients like leaf mold, coir, loam etc... The advantages include saving on cost and bulk, while your compost is better suited to plant needs - find more on making compost for growing seedlings and plants here.

Compare Proprietary Compost for Seedlings and Potting: What is multi-purpose compost, evaluate peat and non peat alternatives, will your compost bin help? This compost garden pages checks them out.

Compost Gardening: You can make and harvest organic matter by re-using, recycling and converting nutrients to organic form with green manures. You can make a range of soil conditioners, composts and nutrient rich liquid feeds. About working with nutrient cycles in the garden

Commercial growers make useful organic fertilizers and soil conditioners from their nutrient/organic waste streams. Read more about ready made organic fertilizers.

HEAP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN - more information & links on composting

GARDENER'S INTERNET: FERNDALE LODGE - here I find quality tools selected for my gardening needs GARDENER'S SUPPPLY - in-tune with organic gardening - they understand the needs of gardener's - VERMONT. ON OTHER WEBSITES: Savvy Vegetarian - support for vegetarian diet, healthy eating & green living, with free advice, articles, blog, recipes, & resources.	MORE ON THIS WEBSITE: Go To Drum & Tumbler Bins - their advantages & how to use them Garden Shredders - review the types of shredders available. Find Out More - how does composting work? Fall Gardening - practical ways to clear up leaves & contain hedge cuttings ... ^ Top of page
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