Composting Machines – What Do You Really Need?

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Composting is the process of helping organic matter rot. Some machinery is necessary even if it is only a fork or shovel. What tools or machines are really necessary to produce good compost?

Some people insist that every bit of garden debris from peas vines to corn stalks to tree branches have to be composted. It needs to be realized that all of these materials will compost but that not all organic material is created equal. Different items will need different times to decompose and some really need to cut down to size if they are expected to go through the typical garden composting system.

For example, in the usual three bin composting setup used by many gardeners, garden debris like pea and bean vines, carrot tops or lettuce that is threatening to go to seed will disappear in two or three weeks while corn and broccoli stalks will likely be around for months. In this case the fork that is used to turn the pile can be augmented by simple tools like shears or an axe. These are used to cut the stalks into shorter lengths of six inches or less. The process also tends to bruise the stalks and the added surface area allows bacteria to work faster thus letting the material compost quicker along with the rest of the pile. Incidentally, the axe also requires a chopping surface like a length of log on end.

Some people like to get the chopping done another way. The pile is simple built of all available matter and let rest for three or four days as the bacteria and fungi start their work. Then a well sharpened shovel is driven into the pile cutting through stalks and vines as the pile is turned. A mattock does an easier job of this but it is still fairly hard work. Second and third turnings go easier as the pieces rot.

This leads people to buy garden shredders, especially in the case of branches. These do a great job of reducing piles of woody material to as little as a tenth of the size of the original pile of branches. It is up to the gardener to decide if the expense justifies the results. Many shredders do not do a very good job on wet material such as stormed on leaves and buyers should be aware of this. Lawn mowers tend to do a better job on leaves. Just lay the leaves out, run the mower over them and rake.

Are the extra tools and machinery necessary for you garden composting system? Not really. After all is said and done, the pile will rot. But they may be warranted in making your system produce good compost faster from your available materials.

Darrell Feltmate is an avid gardener who has been composting and gardening for over 25 years with gardens up to 1/2 acre and compost piles for each. His composting site may be found at Compost Central. You can become a master composter in no time at all.

Composting bins are not necessary but are certainly nice in setting up a home garden compost system. For details on the very simple but effective homemade compost bins of the author see homemade compost bin