Guide to Yard Composting in a Bin or Tumbler

You can do outdoor, wormless composting in a tiny yard, on a deck or a patio by laying the same basic compost ingredients in a bucket or bin and turning them frequently. You could also invest in a compost bin tumbler, a compost bin on a spit that makes turning and tumbling easy and mess-free.

Outdoor Composting vs. Worm Composting

Outdoor composting calls for the same ingredients as the worm method: nitrogen, or "greens," supplied by fresh yard trimmings and kitchen scraps; carbon, or "browns," supplied by dried grass, dried leaves, sawdust, fireplace ashes and newspaper; air; and water.

How to Start Your Compost Bin

Layer greens and browns six to eight inches thick on the ground or in a container on the ground at least a cubic yard large, keep it moist (again, about the consistency of a wrung-out sponge) and turn the pile once in a while to keep it aerated. Compost bins or compost bin tumblers should have a lid and a ventilation source.

As in worm composting, avoid meat and dairy products, and don't add dog or cat feces, because they can carry parasites or pathogens.

Maintaining Your Compost Bin

The key is aerating. The more you turn it, the faster it will break down. Anyone can heap stuff in a pile and have compost, but it might take a year. That's why compost bin tumblers can be so great, they make turning easy and fast.

With the proper balance of materials, if you turn the pile faithfully every couple of days, you might be able to harvest compost in as little as three weeks, but the rule of thumb is about four to six months. If you have room, it's good to have two piles going, in different stages of decomposition, so there will always be some compost available. Combine the necessary ingredients in one pile and turn it frequently till it breaks down into compost, and use the other pile for your new vegetable and yard trimmings.

Be sure to keep the elements balanced; don't let the pile get too soggy or too dry. The heat generated in yard composting comes from the decomposition process itself, not from the sun or other heat sources. It might be best, if possible, to have your compost pile in the shade to keep the sun from drying it out.

Compost Problem Solving and Tips

Cutting scraps into small pieces will speed decomposition. The finished product should have a rich, earthy but not unpleasant smell and a dark color.

A bad odor means not enough air is getting to the materials. Some gardeners add kelp, manure or powdered "activator," which contains beneficial bacteria, to aid rotting. Grass clippings should be used in moderation and well mixed with other materials, or they may become slimy.

But, if you're turning often and avoiding meats and other fatty materials, your compost should be fine and smelling good. A high-quality compost bin or compost bin tumbler can also help to correct any odor problems.