Any gardener worth his salt knows that good compost is unparalleled when it comes to feeding one’s soil with nutrients. In fact, several people actually have a thriving business producing compost and selling it to farms.
There are usually a few issues that prevent people from making their own compost. Firstly, you need to be attentive to the process. Then you’ll need to use the correct green and brown materials in the right ratio.
Let’s not forget the raking of the compost to aerate it and so on. In this article, we’ll look at tools that will help you to simplify the process.
* Composting bin
The first and most obvious item you’ll need is a compost bin. Now, some people may try to compost in a big metal trash can or just make a heap in their backyard.
While there are no right or wrong answers here, you have to take into account how much compost you’re creating and the ease of effort involved. The 18.5 gallon Miracle-Gro Small Composter will produce compost easily because you can turn the wheel and aerate the compost.
It’s difficult to do that with a trash bin and almost impossible with an open heap. That said, the Miracle-Gro model will produce enough compost for one garden. So, you won’t produce that much compost to sell or give to your friends, unless you have a few of these in your garden.
Alternatively, you could get the 80-gallon Lifetime compost tumbler. It works on the same principle as the Miracle-Gro model, but now you can produce a lot more compost to use and even sell.
Using a composter will help to retain heat within the compost. There’s an aeration system because of the small holes within the composter. Everything is locked and tight so that rodents can’t access the compost. Since you’re able to crank the wheel and turn it, aerating the compost will be a breeze. Pun not intended.
It’ll definitely help to get a compost bin.
* Other tools
Before you can add the materials in the bin, it’s crucial that you break them down in size and mix them up well. Here’s how you do it…
Place your green and brown materials in a heap in your backyard. We’re assuming you know the basics of composting and will just look at the tools necessary.
First, you’ll need a shovel to scoop the raw material into a heap. If you have bigger branches, etc. you should have a spade to break them into smaller pieces. While you may be tempted to use the shovel to do that, it’s better to use a spade because of the sharpened blade that’s made of hardened steel.
Other than that, it’ll be helpful to have a rake to aerate and mix up the materials. The ERGIESHOVEL model is great because not only can you use it standing up so you don’t strain your back, but it can be broken down into 3 pieces so that you can use it while kneeling and it also makes for easier storage.
A lot of equipment such as aerators, wheelbarrows, tarps, etc. are unnecessary if you’re using a compost bin because you’ll be aerating the compost just by turning the handle.
When the compost is done, you can either pour it out into buckets and carry them to your garden, or if you’re making large amounts of compost, you could get a gardening cart and use it to transport the compost.
It’s crucial to know the temperature of your compost. This can be easily discovered by using the A.M. Leonard compost thermometer.
Even if you’re using a compost bin, just by sticking the thermometer in the bin, you’ll be able to see the temperature of the decomposing pile. Just remember to take it out of the bin when you’re done.
A watering device such as the Relaxed Gardener Watering Wand is fantastic for adding moisture to your compost. Your mix needs to have a certain dampness to it for it to fully decompose.
The watering wand will produce a fine mist that’s perfect for composting. It beats using a watering can which may cause splashes or too much water. The wand spreads the moisture evenly on the compost too. Of course, you’ll need to attach the wand to a garden hose to use it.
These are most of the tools you’ll need. Composting can be a relatively low-key and simple process. What really matters is the type of dry and wet material you use in your compost. This is what decides the quality of your compost.
Use the equipment mentioned in this article and you won’t go wrong. Most of the best gardeners use several or all of them to produce rich, quality compost that plants love. Now you can too!
