Types of composting systems

Composting is very easy to do, even in a small garden, and yet it is often regarded as one of the common mysteries of gardening. For the best results, simply follow the golden rules and once you've got the hang of it, it's like riding a bike, you'll never think about it again.

There are three main types of composting systems:

A compost heap: Many gardeners pile up the garden and kitchen waste in a big heap in the corner of the garden. This can work very well, especially in a large garden but it does tend to spread and encroach on the rest of the garden. A compost heap tends to build up slowly and will rarely heat up to create a fast composting process. It is a very good system to use in a wildlife garden and can support the lifecycle of a number of beneficial creatures such as toads, newts and even hedgehogs.

A compost heap may be more difficult to manage as the material at the bottom will mature beneath the new material being added and it is not always convenient to dig it out. A compost heap tends to be open to the soil at the base and this allows soil organisms such as worms and beneficial microbes to move through the developing compost easily.

A Compost Bin: Most gardeners use a special bin for composting. This can be made from a range of materials including timber, plastic or resin. Some gardeners make their own compost bin. To get the best results a compost bin needs to be quite large. The bin and its contents need to be big enough for the composting material to fuel a large amount of microbes, otherwise it will take too long to work. An area around the size of a traditional dustbin is about right. A larger contained area is also suitable. This sort of system needs to be generously filled, frequently, for the best results. Some gardeners advocate using a three-bin system where there is one bin being actively filled, one bin is already full and composting, and the third bin is full of composted waste ready to use on the garden. In a medium or large garden this can be a very effective system.

A Wormery: Worms play a vital role in garden composting systems. A wormery harnesses the power of worms to deal with small amounts of kitchen and garden waste in a specially prepared environment conducive to worm activity. A worm bin is a brilliant way to get children involved in composting and gardening and it is also ideal for small gardens. There's nothing to stop you having more than one system on the go. Consider using a worm bin near the kitchen and a compost bin further down the garden.

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