composter help please?

Question

should a compost bin be placed directly on the soil, raised off of the soil, or placed on wood/concrete? support your answer. why should a compost pile be constructed away from trees?

Answer 1

Good question. I made a couple of wood compost bins, and also used a 4-sided plastic one with a removable top, and all of them went directly on the ground.

I think they should go on the ground if you want earthworms to help your composting. (The logic is that natural composting of leaves and debris is always directly on the ground.)

If you elevated your compost pile on wood or concrete, you will only have the bacteria and airborne molds to do your composting (unless you toss in a few shovels of garden dirt.) I read an article about a rotating composter made from an empty 55 gallon steel drum with a removable hatch, and by turning the compost every day or so, the material was well-mixed and composted in only a few weeks. That material never touched the ground.

I think a pile should be away from the trees because the tree's roots need to get moisture as well as dry out from time to time, and a compost bin will prevent that.

Answer 2

Place your compost bin on soil, so that the bugs, worms etc from the existing soil can make there way into your compost heap to help break it down.
It should be kept away from trees/ fences as it has been possible for the heat within a working compost bin to become so high it could be possible for it to ignite.

Answer 3

Doesn't matter. I compost directly on the ground in piles, and turn them with a garden fork or spade. Does kill out the ground until you move it, but then, so would wood or concrete. I have mine in the back of the acreage, among the trees, and have been successful with it for years and years.

Answer 4

Well...that's a good one....first , it should be on the soil , so the worms and bugs and micro-organisms can freely enter and do their thing ! Second , when organic matter decomposes it leaches nitrogen from the soil and releases methane gases (and other harmful toxins)into the soil , so you want to keep it clear from any plants...(it also harbors mold and fungus-all helpful and necessary for the compost , but harmful to other plants !) Be sure to keep it moist (not soggy) and turn it quite often...IT WILL BE WORTH THE EFFORT FOR YOUR GARDEN AND OUR PLANET !!!!! Thank-you my friend...WE SALUTE YOU!!!