compost brown material and kitchen garbage is an environmentally friendly way of produce organic material for your plants and salvage some money you would otherwise spend on fertilizers .
However , it is n’t as elementary as stack up all your garden waste and name it a day . You have to change state it often , add a compost starter , etc .
But before all that , you have to decide whether you desire a compost bin or a pile in your backyard . Both methods have their benefit ; one takes up less infinite , the other is cheaper , etc .
Below , you ’re able to say about the factor that will assist you decide between compost heap vs bin so that you ’re able to start composting today .
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Compost Pile vs Bin
The main difference between a compost pile and a compost bin is how they are contained . The . was leaveed by pile
And once you choose your composting method , you may make thebest compost for your vegetable garden , such as vermicompost ( or worm compost ) , leaf clippings , manure , etc .
What Is A Compost Pile?
A compost pile isa pile oforganic materialssuch as leaves , grass clipping , yield and vegetable scraps , coffee grounds , shell , and otheryard wasteleft todecomposeon their own .
They can be as small or as large as you want them to be , depending on the amount of composting material available and the infinite you have to store the heap . To create acompost heap , find a level , dry country in a cheery location , and start layer the material .
It ’s essential to have a good balance of brown materials ( leaf , straw , sawdust ) and green materials ( grass clippings , food scraps ) with the purpose of get the right balance of atomic number 6 and nitrogen .
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It can take several week or even calendar month for acompost pileto decompose fully , depend on the size and the material . Once the material in a pile has broken down and has a uniform , dark , crumbly texture , it ’s potential to use it as a soil amendment .
There are two type of compost piles , hot and cold , and we ’ll discuss them thoroughly in the following paragraphs .
Hot Compost Pile
Ahot compost pileis a method acting of compost carbon andnitrogen - richmaterials and maintaining high temperatures ( usually between 131 - 170 ° F)throughout the compost procedure .
The eminent heat energy help to kill off any harmful pathogens and weed seeds that may be present in the organic stuff and also rush up the decomposition procedure .
A hot compost pile is also called an “ aerobic compost pile , ” as the eminent heat make optimum conditions for the aerobic microorganisms that break down the decomposing material .
To create this heap , you necessitate a balanced amount of nitrogen andcarbon - richmaterials and water to keep it moist . The . was cooled by it
Pro tip : If your compost pile does n’t heat up , it could be that there ’s a lack of or excess moisture or that you did n’t add enough atomic number 7 - rich material , such as manure .
Here are some more tip for creating your own hot compost pile :
Cold Compost Pile
The temperature of acold compost pileis similar to the ambient temperature and does n’t transcend 130 ° F .
Because of this , it is also called an “ anaerobic compost heap , ” as the conditions are n’t idealistic for aerobic microorganisms to decompose the organic waste material .
You need the same greenish and brown material , nutrient waste material , etc . , as when creating a traditional compost pile , althoughyou do n’t need to water or turn it , so it ’s much lesslabor - intensivethan the previous method .
However , a cold compost pile is more time - consuming as you just let it happen of course , so be prepared for that . If you live in an arid part , you ’re able to add some water during prolonged dry spells .
Finally , because the pile does n’t generate a lot of heat , some harmful bacterium , such as E. coli , may stay , so be careful when using it in your vegetable garden .
What Is A Compost Bin?
Acompost binis a container used to holdorganic matteras it disintegrate . They are made from a variety of material , such as forest , credit card , or metal , and come up in many different sizes and designs .
Compost binshave a special designing that lets them contain the compost while let air and moisture in , which are necessary for the composting process .
Start layering the brown and green material like in a compost pile , and the bin will contain and compact them . Add moisture and change state the ingredients from time to clip , and if you hate blend , you could always get a compost tumbler to do the hard piece of work for you .
Finally , many bin come with eyelid and have access or a door at the bottom you may use to extractfinished compost .
Choosing Between Compost Pile vs Bin
Reading about all the benefits of worm , mushroom , orloam - based compostcan inspire us to make a homemade version to reduce the waste material we bring forth and enrich our garden beds at the same time .
Even after we ’ve defined the compost pile and bin , we still do n’t cognize which one to use . Therefore , we brought you nine factors that analyze these methods , which will assist you settle on one of them .
1. Size And Space They Take Up
Compost binsare perfect for gardens withlimited infinite . Why piles by and large necessitate more room? Because they do n’t have any walls around them to keep them in place .
Even little compost heaps require a larger country because you necessitate to change state them . And if you make a heap too little , the decomposition procedure wo n’t be as effective .
Furthermore , compost binskeep everything in topographic point , but you can not adapt them to fit morewaste materialsthan they already do .
you ’re capable to always accommodate piles , making them smaller or largerto fit the amount of space you have .
2. Animal Access
Bins are by and large more effective at keeping scavengers and rodents away from your compost than piles .
Of naturally , you could try and protect your compost pile with chicken wire or some other barrier , but they ’re not as effective as the existent wall of a compost bin .
3. Attracting Flies
Flies in compostare one of the thing that deter us from making our own compost . Luckily , manycompost binscome with lids that reduce fly action by preventing entree to thecompost material .
Piles , on the other hand , just sit in the open , so fly can easily access them .
4. Spreading Unpleasant Smell
compost may bring forth foul odors , especially if you ’ve used more atomic number 7 - rich material . One of the downside of compost heaps is that they can not contain the smell .
fortunately , bin come with lids you could close to reduce the odor , so you could compost even near your place .
5. Amount Of Compost
In this class , the compost heap is the victor . There ’s no limit to how much compost you ’re able to bring forth other than the space you have in shop for it .
Compost bins , on the other hand , are restrained by their four walls , so you wo n’t be able to bring forth as much compost .
6. Time To Produce Compost
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Compost binsspeed up the decomposition process , and you ’ll be able touse compostin as small as 3 - 4 week to 3 calendar month , depend on how much carbon - rich material you ’ve used ( they slow down the procedure ) .
Hot compost pilesare almost equally as effective , if not faster , but they do require more piece of work . Finally , it take about half a twelvemonth to a year to produce compost in acold compost pile , so bear all this in mind before starting .
7. Amount Of Work Needed
Compost binsare generally lesslabor - intensivethan compost piles because you may easily turn them , and you wo n’t have to do so too often . And if you have a compost tumbler , you wo n’t have to do it at all .
If you have acompost heap , you will have to mix the compost frequentlyto prevent the rotting of materials and encourage decomposition .
8. Appearance
Compost piles are n’t attractive and may give your garden a chaotic visual aspect , unlike bins which keep everything in place and in order .
9. Price
Compost heaps do n’t cost any money since all you necessitate are waste material and a patch of dry ground .
Compost bin and tumbler range from anywhere between $ 50 to $ 300 , depend on the sizing , visual aspect , etc .
FAQ
Is it better to have a compost pile or bin?
If money is no object , it is better to get a compost bin . It will keep the product safe from scavengers , wo n’t attract flies , look more pleasing than a pile , and wo n’t spread any unpleasant odors . Also , it is less time - devour and labour - intensive and takes up less space , so you wo n’t have to worry whether you ’ll have anywhere to put it .
What are the benefits of composting?
Composting has many benefits , and one of the chief one is reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills , which in bend reduce the measure of methane gas produce by decompose organic stuff in landfills . Compost is an excellent beginning of food , can increase soil fertility , and keep plants healthy . And if wecompare compost and fertilizer , we ’ll see that it also amend the growing medium and improves drainage , aeration , and moisture retention . compost will also salvage you money as you wo n’t have to buy fertilizer and soil amendments . It support sustainable gardening because you make it yourself from your own waste material , is eco - friendly , and promote biodiversity due to the microbes present in it ( which promote healthier ecosystems).Finally , composting let you to make your own fertilizer , so you wo n’t be dependent on man-made one that may be harmful to the environment .
Final Thoughts
A compost pile is a traditional way of make compost by using organic waste , while a compost bin is a vas in which you put the composting material .
When examining the differences between compost heap vs bin , we have to advert that the heap offers larger sum of product and is cheap .
On the other hand , a bin take up less infinite , looks more appealing , does n’t spread foul olfactory property or attract fly , and keeps the compost safe from scavengers . you could also make compost much faster in a bin , but if you make a hot compost pile , there ’s almost no deviation .
Finally , compost bin are less labour - intensive , especially if you get a tumbler .
P.S. Both options will set down you a top merchandise , so do n’t worry about make a error !
