It’s almost the holidays! You are probably dreaming of spring gardening so what is on your wish list? A composter or tumbler can make a great gift! It is an eco-friendly way to reuse kitchen waste which helps cut down on harmful decomposition at landfills which can produce methane gas. You can create rich compost to add to your garden as part of your nutrient plan for your plants. 

The Importance of Composting 

Composting is an important part of gardening. A rich compost combined with a nutrient-rich fertilizer such as one of Humboldts formulas is a great way to successfully grow a thriving garden. For centuries backyard compost piles have been an indispensable tool for gardeners, but nowadays you have options that provide greater efficiency and ease to create black gold compost for the garden. In this article, we will explore the differences between composters and tumblers. 

Choosing a Composter or a Tumbler 

Either a composter or a tumbler is a valuable gardening asset to add to your arsenal. The compost created in the devices helps to regenerate depleted soil and is a key ingredient in your cultivation process. 

Composters and Tumblers

Nowadays, you can choose between a bin-style standard composter or a tumbler. 

• Design: A standard composter is a stationary device that sits in your garden. It is not typically movable (a few designs might feature wheels but it’s rare). The bin sits in the garden and has an open bottom design. A tumbler usually has wheels so you can roll it around the garden and empty the compost exactly where you need it the most. Also, the tumbler sits in an elevated position on wheels so you can easily position a wheelbarrow under the tumbler to empty the compost directly into the wheelbarrow. 
• Durability: A tumbler is made of this plastic because it must hold a great deal of weight during the tumbling process. Without a doubt, the tumbler far surpasses the thin-walled plastic design of the standard composter. Also, if you live somewhere that is prone towards severe winters then a standard composter can easily start to crack or chip after it has been exposed to cold weather. 
• Capacity: The standard composter holds about three times the amount of hummus as a tumbler. 
• Speed and Accessibility: A standard composter is often hard to access the compost. You’ll have a difficult time turning it with a shovel or pitchfork, so the composting process takes a lot longer than with a tumbler. With a tumbler, all you do is crank the handle a few times to turn the drum which mixes the compost. There is no need to shovel it. The tumbler creates compost within six to eight weeks. 
• Pest Control: Mice and other small animals can dig under the edge of a standard compost bin to feast on the rotting compost. However, a tumbler is always pest-proof because of its fully sealed design. The only access to the outside is via the small air holes which are designed to keep out pests. 

Compost Bin vs. Tumbler

Advantages of a Compost Bin 

• Effective way to create a large amount of compost
• Affordable
• All excess moisture easily drains into the surrounding soil

Disadvantages of a Compost Bin 

• Difficult to turn the compost
• Constructed from thin plastic that can crack or break
• Burrowing pests can gain access to the compost 

Advantages of a Tumbler

• Rapid compost breakdown process
• Pest-free due to a sealed drum
• Wheels
• Easy to turn the compost
• Rapid composting

Disadvantages of a Tumbler

• Some models are hard to spin
• Expensive

Having rich compost available for your landscape needs is every bit as important as having Humboldt nutrients on hand to fertilize your garden. Please contact us to learn more!