The very best time of year to begin composting is in the fall, because of the surplus of dried fall leaves and the combination of both fresh and decaying organic materials. To develop a successful compost, there needs to be a balance of nutrients, carbon and nitrogen, which are readily available by the time your maples and poplars have begun to shed their colorful leaves for fall.
Many people who are starting out with composting prefer to have a smaller tumbling composter in the backyard to store compost rather than devote a large section of their yard to a compost pile. The VIVOSUN Outdoor Tumbling Composter is an excellent choice for beginners and hobbyist composters alike, due to its adjustable vents for air circulation and dual-chamber design.
What to know before you buy a composter for fall leaves
How to use a composter
If you’re new to composting, your first step will be to learn the basics. To start your compost, shred or grind your leaves prior to putting them into the tumbler. This should speed up the process significantly. Mowing them will shred them to an ideal size.
The next step is to add kitchen waste and grass clippings from your yard. You can also add a compost accelerator if you wish. You will want to turn your pile of compost a few times per week and continue adding kitchen waste as you mix oxygen into the compost. Keep extra leaves in bags nearby to use as needed.
Composting tips and choosing the right leaves
When composting, you want to achieve the right balance of carbon and nitrogen. Simply put, you’re looking for greens and browns. A good rule of thumb for your compost bin is that it has two-thirds carbon, or brown material, to one-third nitrogen, or green material. Good leaves for composting are leaves with a higher concentration of nitrogen and calcium. Some examples of leaves that work especially well are maple, ash, poplar, willow and fruit tree leaves. Leaves to avoid in your compost include oak, holly, chestnut, walnut and eucalyptus.
Benefits of composting
Approximately 80% of a tree’s nutrients end up in its leaves. If you compost your leaves, you’ve found an economical way to get those nutrients back into your soil without spending another dime. In the fall especially, when leaves are everywhere, taking advantage of what nature offers is a win-win. If the majority of people in North America composted, the reduction in waste being sent to landfills and incinerators could reach as much as 30%.
Composter for fall leaves features
Capacity
When purchasing your composter for fall leaves, the volume or capacity of the composter will determine how much compost you can feasibly produce in any given period of time. If you have a big yard, a small composter will likely feel inadequate for coping with all of your garden clippings. If you have a smaller property, however, a small composter might suit your needs quite well.
Materials and durability
Galvanized steel frames that support your tumbling composter will be weather-resistant, rust-proof and long-lasting. Heavy-duty plastic made with no leaching chemicals will help support the balance of organisms in your compost and is worth a small additional cost when considering options. A durable compost tumbler for your fall leaves will eventually pay for itself.
Dual-chamber design
Dual chambers in a composter for your fall leaves make composting cleaner, faster and easier. You simply fill one chamber with your new greens and browns while your existing compost is cooking in the other chamber. Tumbling composters are great for this reason; aerating the composter with a simple turn of the handles is a breeze and with dual chambers, there is no need to put your hands into the composter.
Composter for fall leaves cost
A target price range for small- to medium-sized tumbling composters is between $80 and $200. If you purchase a composter for less than that, you may end up with a composter that’s built with cheaper materials and is less likely to hold up to bad weather or heavy use.
Composter for fall leaves FAQ
Can you leave a composter outside during the winter months?
A. Your composter should be safe if left outside over the winter, provided the manufacturer states that it can withstand temperatures below freezing. Note that regular composting will only resume after the spring thaw when temperatures warm up again.
Will compost attract bugs and rodents?
A. Compost heaps on the ground attract rodents. However, the first line of defense is suspending the bin off the ground and keeping the chambers shut. This will ensure critters don’t enter the compost bin, which could contaminate the soil therein.
Which composter for fall leaves should I get?
Best of the best composter for fall leaves
VIVOSUN outdoor tumbling composter: available at Amazon
Our take: This highly-rated and reasonably priced tumbling composter is made of galvanized steel and high-quality plastic to prevent corrosion.
What we like: This composter has adjustable air vents for air circulation which helps decompose the organic material in the chamber in a shorter period of time. It is made of quality materials and is weather resistant. The dual-chamber design allows for compost processing in one chamber while fresh material is added to the other. This composter also includes a set of gardening gloves.
What we dislike: Some customers felt it took slightly longer than expected to assemble.
Best bang for your buck composter for fall leaves
IM4000 dual chamber tumbling composter: available at Amazon
Our take: This budget-friendly composter is excellent for beginners and is quite easy to use with its ergonomic handholds. It also possesses dual chambers for composting and isn’t overly large for use in small gardens.
What we like: This composter is made of polypropylene and is contact safe. The frame is built of galvanized steel and made to last.
What we dislike: It can fill with compost quickly due to its size, and can be difficult to assemble without two people.
Honorable mention composter for fall leaves
Miracle-Gro dual chamber compost tumbler: available at Home Depot
Our take: This dual-chamber rolling compost tumbler is perfectly sized for small spaces but offers much of the same features and specifications as its larger competitors.
What we like: Built BPA-free with food-grade materials, Miracle-Gro’s composting tumbler is a great-looking option that doesn’t leach harmful chemicals. It is soundly built and easy to load and unload.
What we dislike: Some users reported they thought it came assembled.
Ashley Britten is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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