How Long to Make Compost in a Home Tumbler?

Using a compost tumbler for the home is the easiest and most efficient way to compost. The tumbler compost bin is different than the standard compost bin because it requires much less effort and muscle power when it's time to mix the compost. All you do is turn or crank the tumbler a few times and you're done.

To compost, you need brown clippings such as dry leaves, old mulch, wood clippings and sticks. You also need green clippings such as fruit and vegetable waste, grass and weeds. Mix the green with the brown clippings, add water and mix every day to aerate the compost. The more air you supply, the faster the waste will decompose. Without a tumbler, you have to mix the materials with a pitchfork, shovel or compost-turning tool. The task can become arduous the bigger your pile gets.

You can tell how your compost is doing by the smell and the steamy heat arising from within. If you smell ammonia, you need to add more brown clippings. If you don't see any steam coming out of the pile within 24 hours, add more green materials. Don't use dairy or animal products in your compost; they attract insects and bugs.

From start to finish, the decomposition of organic materials takes about three to four weeks. The design of the tumbler facilitates faster composting times, because the compost aerates more thoroughly through the frequent turning, thereby decomposing the organic materials sooner. The enclosed bin also retains moisture, which accelerates the decomposition. The tumblers are pest-resistant and neater with which to work, especially if you live in a city.

When your compost is finished, you will have what gardeners call "black gold"--rich, dark earth that you add to your garden soil to increase its productivity. Finished compost is full of minerals and nutrients that plants love.