Posted by Garth the Wizard, on May 30, 2022.
No garden is complete without making your own compost. Compost bins are the houses where waste garden products can be reused again and turned into fresh crumbly compost over time. They speed up the process of composting as they’re enclosed spaces making the conditions ideal. Garantia offers a large selection of compost bins for all garden sizes, they will fit into your outdoor space perfectly so all you need to do is add the waste and let the worms do the rest.
What are the benefits of composting?
Better soil
Composting will introduce important nutrients to your soil to enrich the overall quality, retaining more moisture along with elements such as nitrogen and carbon. This will play an important role in helping your plants to grow and produce a more vibrant garden as a result. Weeds will also find it harder to grow, saving you time, effort and money when it comes to managing your garden.
Less landfill waste
Because you can use anything from vegetable peelings to unwanted cardboard, composting will help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. Studies have shown we throw away a staggering 6.6 tonnes of household food each year, with 70% being food that could have instead been eaten. Less wastage means lower harmful gases are emitted into the atmosphere, benefitting us all.
Saves on costs
The cost of gardening adds up over time, spending money on chemical fertilisers and watering the garden via a hose connected to a tap. By composting you no longer have to spend money travelling to a local gardening centre to buy more fertiliser and will be able to cut down your water bills. It will also mean you get more from a tank of petrol, making the most of your energy resources too.
Lower carbon footprint
The emission of methane from organic materials in landfills accounts for over a third of methane emissions in the UK. Due to the poor airflow in landfills, food decomposes and enters the atmosphere causing greater harm to the environment. Wherever possible we should do our bit to reduce this level and composting is one of the easiest ways to do so.
Improves air quality
More and more cities are feeling the impact of lower air quality, which disproportionately affects children, the elderly and people with existing medical conditions. Rather than sending waste to landfills, some people choose to burn garden waste which releases harmful chemicals used in weed killers, fertilisers and insect sprays. Composting is a great alternative, helping to improve air quality by removing the need to burn or dispose of wastage.
Helps manage garden pests
Insect spray is a popular method used by many gardeners to keep pests away from plants and greenery, however, the chemicals can also have a detrimental effect on what you are trying to grow. Compost features micronutrients that work in a similar way to pesticides, which can reduce the need to use chemicals and sprays.
What sort of items can you turn into compost?
There are two basic types of materials that can be used:
Greens: These can be things such as grass, vegetable and fruit waste and coffee grounds.
Browns: Twigs, branches, and dead leaves are some of the items included here.
It’s important to strike an equal balance between these two groups, along with a good amount of water to help the process, as the moisture will break down the organic material. Green materials provide nitrogen, while brown materials give carbon. Layers inside the compost bin should alternate between the two.
You can also compost:
- Eggshells
- Shredded newspaper
- Cardboard
- Teabags
- Houseplants
- Paper
- Sawdust
- Cotton
- Hair and fur
- Hay and straw
Choosing a compost bin
When choosing a compost bin, you will need to factor in the size of your garden, how much compost you use and how much waste your garden produces to fill the bin. Garantia offers a range of compost bins from small urban 15L bins to larger-scale 1000L compost bins.
Our best seller is the 600-litre thermo-wood compost bin. Sturdy, robust composter which is easy to fill through two large filler flaps. Ingenious aeration system: Ventilation openings on all four sides, concealed under the wood-effect boards to keep the side panels decorative making it ideal for most gardens.
If you need more compost for your garden, the thermo-star 1000-litre bin may be better for you. This compost bin is made from 100% recycled plastic as well as our patented Thermolene technology. This technology thermo-insulates the compost, speeding up the composting for you. It’s easy for you to put together without the use of tools, with easy access to the compost through two large filling hatches. A cover lock is also provided so you can use it in the summer and winter.
For balcony gardens, or if you just want to try composting before investing in a large bin, why not try our urban composter? Simply place your applicable kitchen waste in the compact 15-litre composter and have homemade compost ready for your garden in a matter of days!
