If you are excited to try composting you may be wondering the best place to place your compost tumbler for the best results.
There are a few things to think about in terms of placement, and we are going to take a look at the pros and cons of the different possible placements.
When you decide where to put the compost tumbler, you need to think about where it is in relation to your house, any boundary walls, and plants.
You don’t want to put it where it will shade other plants or be in a fully shaded area. It is advantageous to have it in the great outdoors to have sun heat warms the tumbler and helps to keep it active for quick composting.
Do I Need to Put My Compost Tumbler on Flat Ground?
When you have a good compost tumbler, you should place your compost tumbler on a flat surface. This provides for proper tumbler rotation and stability.
Find a good flat area, and check to see that all rocks and weeds have been removed so that the the composter is stable.
You can also place some pavers down that the tumbler can sit on.
Should I Put My Compost Tumbler near to the House?
There are some pros to having your compost tumbler near your house, but you don’t want it to be too close.
The most significant pro is that it’s easy to deposit compost whenever you have some, and you don’t have to walk the compost across an entire garden plot. You certainly don’t want it a mile away.
However, there are definitely some decent reasons to steer clear of a compost bin close to your house.
- Firstly, there is the obvious odor. Although a healthy compost heap should not smell horrible, it will probably have an earthy, perhaps slightly rotten, odor and, in the hotter weather, you would not want something like that very close to your house.
- Secondly, you don’t want a compost bin right next your house because it could possibly attract animals (e.g. raccoons, bears and rats). Depending on the local wildlife in your area, and how you feel about that, it is probably a good idea to keep the tumbler at a reasonable distance from your home as it may reduce the likelihood of animals wanting to investigate your house.
- Thirdly, you may not want a compost heap too close to the home, simply because there is a small fire risk. It is extremely unlikely that a home compost heap will ever catch on fire unless it is a very large compost heap (unlikely with a tumbler) and a lot of nitrogen has been placed in, but it is not impossible.
For that reason, the safest place to put your compost tumbler is a reasonable distance away from any building, especially your house and shed.
Best Practice: Overall, it is likely best to place your compost tumbler a few meters away from your house. You can still access it fairly easily, while keeping it far enough away that it does not create a nuisance.
Should I Put My Compost Tumbler in the Sun?
It’s always a good idea to find a spot for your compost tumbler where it will get some sun. The sun will warm the tumbler and help the bacteria digest the food in the pile.
This will enhance its effectiveness and allow it to work more efficiently.
However, you wouldn’t want it in full sun, because this will dry your compost out too quickly, and possibly even make it too hot.
A dry compost will not perform accordingly, and you may even find that the worms (who also aid in composting) leave.
Considerably unlikely, but still possible, the hot sun could even warp your compost tumbler out of shape.
This would only be a concern if you live in an especially hot climate, but it is still a factor to consider with full sun.
Should I Put My Compost Tumbler in the Shade?
A sprinkle of shade is beneficial for your compost as it helps dampen the compost and keep your worms from drying out.
Compost creates some heat itself, especially if you turn it regularly, so it should be able to keep working even in the shade.
Having a little sunlight does help as it breaks down the compost faster too.
Give this a try: If you’re able to place your compost somewhere that has a little sun and a little shade, that is probably the best location.
Should I Worry about Wind?
If some sections of your garden are more exposed than others you might have concerns about the wind.
If you have an actual compost tumbler, then you will have nothing major to worry about as far as wind is concerned, but if you have an exposed heap, you will likely notice the wind drying it out very fast.
This may also cause things to get blown off the compost pile and onto the ground nearby.
This could be especially frustrating if you add things like paper or cardboard.
What Else Do I Need to Think About?
In addition to where you decide to put your compost bin, you’ll want to consider what’s nearby.
You will want to provide yourself with a little space around your compost, because, at some point, you’re going to have to dump out the bin.
You also want the opportunity to spin the tumbler so that it doesn’t fray against anything or get stuck on a branch that is growing into the spinning area.
I recommend leaving yourself a meter or two around your compost tumbler to allow yourself flexibility to handle your compost, and to turn or dump composting items as you need without leaving yourself trapped in between.
Bonus Tip: You should also consider how the compost will look in your yard, and will it be a nuisance to your neighbors? Compost tumblers can be quite unsightly, so try your best to place it where you can’t see it from inside the house, or other houses nearby.
Summary
This is a lot to think about, and you are, understandably, wondering where on earth you can store it in your garden so that all of these conditions are met!
This being said, you can always create temporary shade for your tumbler, and you can level the ground or erect wind-blocks if a site is chosen that feels a bit gusty.
While you may not currently have the perfect site for your compost tumbler, you should be able do one or two modifications without too much trouble.
The ideal is to use the time to move a tumbler around proper sites, or you might find that you contain and move it away after all!