You ’ve finally adjudicate to commit in a compost roller . And you ’ve started throng in your green plant cloth like veg trimmings , coffee earth , and banana peels . And , then you added in the brown materials like leaves , forest chips , and newspaper . It ’s time to turn your tumbler and let the decomposing start . But you might still be excogitate this question : How often should I turn my compost roller ?

For the best results , twist or spin your compost tumbler day by day . If your compost premix is well - balanced with gullible and brown materials , the frequent turning will get you your “ dark Au ” quickly .

tumbler are designed to save you from the heavy task of manually turn over your compost heap with a pitchfork or shovel . Even though composting might be physically wanton with a tumbler , you still call for to take care of your lot . Keep reading as we take you through the process of create the perfect compost in your tumbler .

Compost tumbler outside the grassy yard

How Do You Compost With A Tumbler?

initiate your compost in a tumbler is just like starting a pile in your yard . You need to garner brown materials that are high in carbon copy and combine with dark-green materials that are high-pitched in nitrogen . Thegeneral ruleis a 30:1 atomic number 6 - to - atomic number 7 ratio or 30 function of carbon to 1 - part nitrogen .

Once you have your point in the roller , checker to make certain the mix is damp but not wet . Then turn , roll or spin your tumbler . spin around your barrel daily so that air flow through the materials . It ’s also hunky-dory to only spin the tumbler every other day . And be sure you give it a twirl when you bring new factor .

discover a spot in your yard that ’s cheery to partially shadowed . Your tumbler should be exposed to some sun but not direct sunshine .

Compost tumbler on grassy yard

Is Turning The Tumbler Hard?

Turning your compost roller should n’t be punishing or strenuous . If the tumbler has been designed well , it will spin , toss , roll or turn with piddling effort .

tumbler range in size of it and capacitance which can impact the system of weights of the container you ’re examine to move around . you’re able to buy a small tumbler that holds up to 19 gallons of textile and it will be gentle to flip . Even if you double over the size of it of your barrel to 37 Imperial gallon , it will still change state without much effort . Larger tumblers that have barrels holding up to 60 gallons will be more of a challenge to whirl if you are not at full strength .

Tumblers are designed to work with gravitation . you could assist graveness do its line by placing your tumbler on a monotonous and degree aerofoil . Placing your barrel on a hearty surface is also helpful .

If your tumbler pigeon is too heavy for you to flip , do n’t fulfill it all the manner . Or , you may prove a container that roll .

While you might find a larger tumbler a chip heavy to spin when it ’s full , it ’s still a lot less employment than using the old pitchfork to the heap method .

How Long Does It Take To Make Compost In A Tumbler?

One of the perk of using a tumbler to compost is that it ’s tight . In our research , we ’ve come across tumbler users that have fully cured compost in as little as three or four weeks .

There are several factors like can sometimes help and other time hinder your compost ’s journey .

Temperature

Your compost mixture needs heat and moisture to thrive . But too much or too little of either component will delay decomposition .

For model , if you live in upstate New York and it ’s winter , your compost will take more than a few hebdomad to bring around . Everything you put in your barrel will belike be tight . To hasten the rot of your pile , look for drier items to add to your container . immobilise temperatures will also lower the roller ’s home heat . With a good balance of green and brownish , your compost might bring around in about three month .

Now , if you live in sunny South Florida , your tumbler compost will likely be ready within a month . In this scenario though , you should keep your bin out of direct sun . You should also check that the contents of the barrel are moist . Daily spinning in a warm clime can help unfreeze additional heating plant .

control the temperature of your bin with a heart and soul thermometer . Ideal temperatures are between135 ° - 160 ° Fahrenheit .

For more information on this topic , check out our billet where we discusshow long it exact to compost in a tumbler pigeon .

Carbon And Nitrogen

Your compost needs to have the veracious mixture of carbon and nitrogen , a equaliser of browned and unripe components to get the line of work done tight .

You should take off your compost with dry brownish stuff like leaf , newspaper , sawdust or hay . Then supply layer of green point like vegetable scraps , eggshells , and grass press clipping to your tumbler . Keep the ratio of three part atomic number 6 - ample brown items to one - part nitrogen - rich green items . Aerate your compost by flipping or spinning your cask several time a week .

Moisture

To get to the full matured compost level , you demand to make certain your intermixture is moist . While your compost should n’t be crocked or miry , it should n’t be ironic either . You will rarely necessitate to add together water to your drum . If the materials look ironic , add green material . If you have a soggy mess , sum up paper or leaves that are ironic . Also , if you have the prison term , cut your produce into pocket-sized pieces . Shred paper or composition board and mix it into the produce . impart the concoction to your compost bin and give it a twirl .

Once you have the right counterpoise , allow the compost do its job and do n’t add together new items . Keep a disjoined pile of new ingredient in a hunk elsewhere . Or keep your fresh scraps and waste in a different tumbler .

Whenconditionsare near perfect , you should have entree to a ripe compost in about three weeks .

Once you have your cured compost , learn our post that goes overwhen to add compost to your gardenfor guidance .

Are Compost Tumblers Any Good?

A station share by Priyanka Chopra Jonas ( @priyankachopra )

Compost tumblers are not just good , they ’re fantastic . There are a mixture of sizes and capacities to meet any of your composting needs . And , you will enjoy the many benefits of using a tumbler pigeon . We ’ve underwrite these perks in this post . Here ’s a review :

Whether your tumbler turns , flips , rolls or twirl , we hope you keep composting with simpleness . Your garden will draw the rewarding humus from your exertion .