Lawn Care

Using The Clippings From Your Yard

People have been recycling waste products for years.  But now the move toward “green” is growing by leaps and bounds.  Ironically, going “green” is doubly appropriate for the gardening aficionado.  Making this easier to do is the compost tumbler.

Previous to the widespread use and production of fertilizers, composting was quite common.  The methodology varied, but the end result was a nutrient rich combination of fruit and vegetable peels, bacon grease, animal manure, leaves, etc – an organic mix left to decompose over time, to be later added to the soil.

In the past, people often used barrels or bins to store and mix the gathered waste scraps.  In many instances, a simple pile of composting material was often formed and left to ferment and then decay, aided by a frequent mixing with a shovel.  The containers and techniques differed, but all were equally effective.

Now, due to neighborhood restrictions, potential scavenging pets, a general distaste for an unsightly pile, or a host of other reasons, a compost tumbler is a great container into which you can toss your kitchen and yard waste.  Instead of a laborious shoveling and mixing of compost, a few simple daily turns of the tumbler will do the trick.  This is especially convenient for people who want their soil and plants to benefit from the byproducts of compost, but don’t have the time to dedicate to vigorously working a pile or wrestling with a barrel.

There are literally tons of tumblers for composting on the market and even some tips on how to make your own compost tumbler.  Some manufacturers will advertise that their compost tumbler is made of all recycled material as either part of their own “green” mission, or to appeal to the composting crowd.  Whatever you choose, however, make sure that your compost tumbler matches your needs.

Shop around.  Some of the containers themselves are large and cumbersome and have difficult to use turning mechanisms.  The size range varies greatly too, so choose one based on how much of a composter you are.

An effective compost tumbler will have thick walls and some kind of self-contained aerator.  This will promote a quicker heating and decomposition process so that you are not waiting more than a few weeks for usable, nutrient-rich food for your plants.  The same aerator mechanism will help break up the resulting material so as to prevent clumping.

Again, take your kitchen and garden waste and convert it into an out-of-this-world fertilizer that will turn your garden into a lush and healthy plant paradise.  Get a compost tumbler today and start saving time, money, and the environment.