Composting is one of the best ways to get organic fertilizer for your garden, lawn, or trees. The vast majority of beginners typically think that it’s composed of only a few ingredients and a whole lot of time. Quite the contrary is true; There are multiple kinds of composting, all of which are created by various causes.
The different types of composting include aerobic, anaerobic, and vermicomposting. Aerobic composting relies on the use of oxygen, whereas anaerobic is the opposite (deprived of oxygen). Vermicomposting is caused by worms and other bugs digesting and excreting organic matter.
Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following information:
- Details about all three types of composting
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Which one you should choose
- Answers to all of the most common questions about compost piles
Aerobic Composting
Aerobic composting is one of the most common methods of creating useable organic matter. It smells wonderful, there’s less prep work, and you can maintain it easily. Not only that, but aerobic composting is also very healthy compared to anaerobic composting.
The reason that it’s called ‘aerobic composting’ is that it involves oxygen-needy organisms. These small organisms are responsible for the process since they eat all of the waste thrown into the pile or bin. As they digest the food, they turn it into fertilizer for you to use in your garden.
As Global Composting points out, an improper balance or lack of aerated soil can create a gross compost sludge. This substance is unusable and causes the rest of the pile to be ruined. The good news is that you can prevent it from happening by using various tools.
One such tool is a Compost Aerator. It mixes the soil, loosens the materials, and adds oxygen to the pile. The result is a fluffy, full bin of compost that you can top off on all sorts of plants.
The only true challenge of using aerobic compost piles is the aforementioned sludge. However, you need to make sure that you maintain an even amount of nitrogen and carbon-based waste. Use dead leaves, grass clippings, old food, and many other types of nutritious materials to create the best pile possible.
The nitrogen to carbon ratio in a top-notch aerobic compost pile would be 2:1, though there are several other examples and suggestions found throughout the web. As long as there’s not too much carbon compared to nitrogen, you’ll be able to adjust your compost accordingly.
Different factors that can influence the outcome and speed of your compost pile include temperature, humidity, shade, sunlight, bugs, and more.
Pros & Cons
Aerobic composting is fun and rewarding. If you follow the suggestions mentioned above, you’ll get the most out of the pile, bin, or tumbler. Let’s examine the pros and cons of aerobic compost below.
Pros:
- Oxygen-rich soil is the best option for most gardens. Unless you have plants that can handle the rough nature of anaerobic composting, then aerobic compost piles will be the way to go.
- You don’t have to worry about a foul smell if you take care of it correctly. Organisms that require oxygen generally don’t create an odor. It should smell earthy and pleasant, almost similar to grass and dirt.
- Maintaining an aerobic compost bin is very simple once you get the ball rolling. Use the proper nitrogen to carbon ratio, aerate it regularly, and keep out the bugs for the best results.
Cons:
- Aerobic composting requires you to follow a strict set of rules. You can’t put certain items in it that might not have enough carbon or oxygen. If you don’t have the right balance, you’ll end up with a pile that never converts to fertilizer.
- Unfortunately, birds, bugs, and other pests are often attracted to aerobic compost piles. They’re loaded with food waste from our garbage cans, which looks like a fresh meal for most wild animals.
Where Are They Made?
When you’re making an aerobic compost pile, you can use three different storage methods:
- Bins
- Tumblers
- Piles
Bins are an excellent choice because they’re small and practical. As NBC News points out, bins can be used inside when you’re making dinner, saving you from a trip outside. Set it on your countertop or on the floor while you’re cooking, then toss all of the scraps in the bin.
Another option for aerobic composting is a tumbler. Composting tumblers come with a rotating lever that allows you to rotate the unit to add oxygen slowly. Rather than buying an aerator, you can use a tumbler to mix everything evenly.
Finally, traditional compost piles are an option for all types of composting, including aerobic. You can create a pile right on the dirt, as long as there aren’t any gophers or other critters in the area. Create a base layer of carbon-rich organic matter topped off with a mix of more carbon and nitrogen-rich matter.
Anaerobic Composting
Next up is anaerobic composting. As the name insinuates, anaerobic compost piles involved organisms that are mostly deprived of oxygen. These organisms don’t need it to thrive and excrete usable compost, unlike the other two types.
Power Knot explains that anaerobic compost piles have several benefits, including the fact that they can be formed without needing to use an aerator. In fact, you don’t need to maintain the pile at all! It should be noted that these types of bins and piles typically present a foul odor.
While they’re usually found in massive pits and landfills, anaerobic compost piles can also be used at home. If you’ve ever been to the dump station in your county, then you’ve probably smelled the incredibly overpowering odor drifting from miles away. It’s made due to a lack of control and oxygen, but that’s exactly how it’s supposed to work.
Although many people love the simplicity and ease of anaerobic composting, it’s important to remember that it takes much longer than its aerobic counterpart. It’s not uncommon for anaerobic composting piles to take several years to decompose. On the other hand, aerobic compost piles start to turn over in a matter of a few months to a single year.
Note: If you’re making a compost pile with anaerobic organisms at home, remember that the smell can be overwhelming for your neighbors. Inform them of your intentions before you take action. For this reason, those who live on farmland have much better results from a large, thriving anaerobic compost pile.
Pros & Cons
Now that you’ve learned all of the details about anaerobic compost, it’s time to dive into all of the advantages and disadvantages. You might be more inclined to try it out or skip to the next type of compost, which is vermicomposting.
Here are the pros and cons of anaerobic composting:
Pros:
- They’re very easy to create and maintain. All you have to do is throw in all of your nitrogen-rich waste and watch it slowly turn into a useable form of organic material.
- Anaerobic compost piles can be created without very many restrictions. There’s no need to worry about what goes in and what needs to be omitted. Furthermore, you can keep it going without dealing with pests.
- You’ll never have to buy additional tools and equipment with an anaerobic compost pile. It doesn’t have to be tumbled or aerated, nor does it need an organic fertilizer base to get it going at the start.
Cons:
- As you probably read above, anaerobic compost smells horrifically bad most of the time. It might not be the best choice for those who are considering composting in a neighborhood with close houses nearby.
- If you’re looking for quick results, then anaerobic compost piles will be a letdown. They usually take a handful of years to produce results, which steers many people away from trying it out.
Where Are They Made? Bin/Pile
Much like aerobic composting, anaerobic compost can be made with bins and piles. However, they can’t use tumblers because there’s no need to introduce oxygen into the pile. You could definitely give it a chance, but it’s a pointless expenditure.
Bins are great for anaerobic composting if you’re only looking for a small amount of fertilizer. You can use it in a garden in your backyard, but bins won’t make enough organic matter for continuous use on large lawns, massive gardens, or several acres of trees.
That being said, anaerobic compost piles are ideal for large-scale farms and other big projects. You can make a huge pile with all sorts of ingredients. As long as it’s primarily made out of nitrogen-rich ingredients and moisture, it’ll be the perfect environment for anaerobic composting.
Vermicomposting
Finally, vermicomposting is growing in popularity. Most other kinds of compost piles require you to remove bugs and other pests from the mixture. However, vermicomposting works in the exact opposite manner. It needs worms to chow down on the ingredients to produce waste.
In order to create a healthy environment to effectively vermicompost, you’ll need to lay down bedding to attract worms. Otherwise, they’ll run out of your compost pile in search of other food around the area.
In most cases, vermicomposting has a bed of vegetables and other food waste. Rodale Institute states that vermicomposting is a combination of worms and aerobic composting. Note that worms and most other living organisms require an ample amount of oxygen to thrive.
It’s important to remember that vermicomposting is far from maintenance-free. Not only are you trying to make a high-quality pile of organic matter for microscopic organisms, but you also have to protect the worms from birds, pets, and other animals.
When it comes to the type of worms to choose, you should introduce the following types into your compost:
- Epigeic worms
- African nightcrawlers
- Blue worms
- Georgia jumpers
- Red Wigglers
As long as your pile has one or more of those worms, it should be good to go. You can’t choose any old worm from the garden (unless it’s mentioned above).
Pros & Cons
Vermicomposting offers a unique method for those who don’t want to follow the traditional types of composting. If you’re interested in learning more about it, reviewing the pros and cons listed below.
Pros:
- With vermicomposting, worms do most of the work for you. Rather than having to continuously adjust the balance, they eat everything and create organic waste to use throughout your garden.
- Vermicomposting doesn’t smell too bad at all. In fact, it smells just like aerobic compost piles; Earthy and fresh! (This pro only applies if you’re adamant amount maintaining a healthy, oxygen-rich pile)
- When you transfer the vermicompost matter to the soil of your garden, the worms that inevitably come with it are healthy for the soil. They remove organic matter, turning it into soil for the plants over the following months and years.
Cons
- If you don’t take care of the pile by turning it over and introducing oxygen regularly, the worms will start to die. They also need a plethora of food waste to continue to function as they should.
- Vermicomposting is a bit messier and not as visually appealing as traditional aerobic composting. Seeing hundreds of worms moving through the soil isn’t exactly what everyone wants to see, but it might not be a big issue for you.
Where Are They Made?
Vermicomposting is most often made in piles. Since they need soil and dirt on all sides, worms are more inclined to stay in a grounded pile. You can make a ditch to keep it lower or start pouring the organic ingredients right on the level ground.
You shouldn’t use tumblers to make vermicomposting piles. Although they add oxygen (which is good for this type of compost), turning the lever and rotating the barrel can have adverse effects on the worms in the soil.
Which One Is Right For You?
After seeing all three different types of composting, you’re probably wondering which one is meant for you and your yard. It’s a mistake to think that they’re all similar, or that they can be made in any environment.
Here’s how you can know what type of composting is right for you:
- Do you live on private land? If so, then you’ll be able to choose from all three types of composting. You need a lot of space to get good results from anaerobic composting, not to mention that you don’t want to stink up a small neighborhood. You can also try vermicomposting if there are worms found in the soil or aerobic for a traditional approach.
- Are you comfortable with using worms? They’re only used in vermicomposting, but you can cross it off if you don’t want to get hands-on with these squirming critters. However, they’ll likely find their way into aerobic compost piles that are performing as they should. You won’t have nearly as many worms, though.
- Are you looking for a way to recycle your organic waste? Those who have extra banana peels, old newspapers, and dinner scraps can make a compost pile by following the aerobic or vermicomposting methods. Anaerobic compost piles need nitrogen-rich materials, but the carbon found in most scraps is great for aerobic compost.
As you can see, it’s rather easy to find out what type of composting you should try. Anaerobic is better for large plots of land, aerobic is the best route for traditional composters, and vermicomposting is the top choice for people who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
If time is an issue, then vermicomposting or aerobic compost piles are the only two choices that you should consider. As long as you maintain the oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen levels, you can make top-notch organic soil for your yard.
FAQ
There’s a whole lot of valuable information to soak up from this article. It might be hard to remember everything or have all of your questions answered. Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions paired with their respective answers.
- How long does composting take? Gardeners suggest that composting can take anywhere from 3 months to two years. Impacting factors include moisture, proper ratios, oxygen, worms, heat, shade, and so on. Also, anaerobic composting leans towards the longer end of the range.
- How do you add oxygen to a compost pile? The best two ways to add oxygen to your pile are to use the aforementioned aerator tool or to put it in a tumbler. Try the Miracle-Gro Single Chamber Tumbler for a spin.
- Can you throw any food scraps into your compost? Cooked foods or those that are loaded with oil and fat aren’t food for compost piles. They add a thick film that makes it harder for the microscopic organisms to work as they should.
Conclusion
The three different types of compost are vermicomposting, anaerobic composting, and aerobic composting. They’re far from similar to one another, but each of them will provide high-quality, usable organic matter. You can layer it in your garden, near the roots of trees, or throughout your lawn for a thick, full patch of grass.
It’s important to follow the answers from the FAQ section, as well as the decisions that you should make when choosing the correct type of composting for you. Good luck!