You are a gardener, and you want to manage your compost effectively. Maintaining it in an appropriate location will be your first concern. However, you must be perplexed by the following question: Do compost bins need direct sunlight?
Numerous plants need direct sunshine. Compost containers are subject to a variety of variables. If you live in a hot climate, you will keep the compost in the shade. However, cold weather will force you to keep it in the shade.
If compost bins are placed in direct sunlight, the sun’s heat accelerates the composting process. However, this will cause your compost to dry out. On the other side, shading the compost containers protects the compost.
Your objective is to keep the compost moist while also accelerating the composting process. To assist you in completing the challenge, I have included a few guidelines below.
I hope this helps you make a more informed choice about whether to select sunshine or shade for your compost.
Composting is a simple process.
While composting may seem to be a fresh green trend, it has been utilized to recycle and use food waste for countless millennia. We quickly found that incorporating our waste rinds, shells, and bones into the soil in which we were growing our new crops resulted in better, tastier fruits, vegetables, and grains. Native Americans even taught the Pilgrims this technique of fertilizing, since burying a fish where you planted your corn resulted in improved soil, which resulted in better crops.
Since those days, the procedure has evolved somewhat. Indeed, the majority of specialists advise against composting meat, bones, cheese, fish, or other animal-based dietary items. It is not that these things will not degrade over time — they most certainly will — but they may wind up attracting some unwelcome visitors to your garden in the meantime.
Nowadays, compost heaps are mostly composed of grass clippings, coffee grounds, tea bags, newspapers, vegetable clippings, and apple cores, in addition to a few dozen other biodegradable materials. This implies that such things will ultimately disintegrate, replenishing the soil’s nutrients.
Temperature
Temperature is critical when determining the location of compost containers. Low temperatures result in a more gradual composting process, and vice versa. You would want to maintain the compost tumblers in direct sunshine to boost the soil’s fertility.
Another consideration is the color of the compost containers. Typically, it is dark, absorbing a greater amount of heat from the sun. If possible, change the color of the compost containers.
If you live in a cold climate, you are forced to keep your compost bins in the shade to protect them from the elements. However, there is no need to worry, since the dumpsters are well covered. They are capable of withstanding harsh weather.
In the winter, I suggest that you maintain the compost in the shade. Composting may be accelerated by adding nitrogen-rich materials such as dung or seaweed. Additionally, do not forget to mix the compost on a regular basis.
Heat is required to convert the compost’s components and microorganisms into usable fertilizer. It enables them to do their tasks more quickly. That is why I believe compost containers should get direct sunshine.
Additionally, too much sunshine may kill microorganisms and possibly start a fire. As a result, I suggest some shade, particularly if you live in a hot climate. Additionally, it prevents the compost from drying out.
Compost bins are mostly made of plastic, which deforms when exposed to intense sunlight. It is preferable to store compost bins in partial shade in the sun.
Sun-Dried Compost Bins
A hot area in direct sunlight is an ideal location for your compost container. You may need to water it sometimes since it will dry up more quickly in the sun’s heat unless it receives a significant amount of rain. You may discover that a compost heap in a sunny location requires less carbon materials such as paper, sawdust, cardboard, and dried leaves, since these items usually aid in the drying process of the pile.
In The Shade, Compost Heaps
Additionally, you may put your compost container in a shaded area of your yard. A pile in the shade may remain somewhat colder, resulting in a more gradual but nevertheless efficient decomposition. Additionally, a compost heap in the shade may remain slightly moister than a bin in the sun. As a result, you may need to add more carbon material and flip it more often in order to mix the greens and browns and keep it from becoming soggy and damp.
The Composting Process’s Rapidity
If you need to speed the fertilizing process, you should always maintain the compost bins in direct sunshine. The location of the bins in relation to the sun is determined by the crops you have recently grown.
If you need crops to mature more quickly, keeping the compost in direct sunshine is ideal. However, you should still maintain it on a regular basis.
Maintaining the compost in the shade is a good idea. It is just a matter of turning it more often. Daily, you should mix up the pile.
Do certain substances degrade more slowly than others?
Certain goods degrade more slowly than others. For instance, thicker, more robust objects such as nutshells, bones, thick-stalked weeds, and pine needles may take years to degrade, while some food products will degrade in a matter of weeks. That is why it is critical to understand what you should and should not compost.
You may compost your meat trimmings as well, but this will take much longer and will result in a different kind of bacterial growth… and may attract one or two raccoons, so be cautious.
Maintaining the Compost’s Moisture Level
As I have said, sunshine dries up compost in bins. When it appears more like dust than soil, it is dry.
Squeeze it to reveal. If the compost does not release water, it is probably too dry.
What is the best way to dispose of dried compost? To begin, you must wet it; add a few drops of water and stir. Maintaining proper sanitation on a regular basis helps prevent your compost from drying out.
As a result, I have a solution here. Maintain compost containers in direct sunshine with some shade. Additionally, water it as required.
Another way to add moisture to the compost is to include carbon-dense foods. To do this, you may always add vegetable scraps, mold, and fresh grass.
While moisturizing the compost is OK, excessive moisturizing is not. Matted heaps or an ammonia odor suggest an excessive amount of moisture in the compost.
You may accomplish this by spinning the barrel and mixing the compost. Increase the amount of compost or brown leaves in the bin. Maintaining a mix of sunshine and shade is the best way to proceed with compost bins.
Which Climate Do You Live In?
Whether your compost bin or heap likes sun or shade may also be determined by your local environment. If you reside in a colder area, your home compost pile may benefit from more sunlight to help heat it up and accelerate decomposition. If you reside in a very hot area, though, the compost bin generally favors a shaded location to avoid drying out from extreme heat.
Is it possible to compost in the winter?
Yes, you may compost throughout the cold months. Naturally, the process will be considerably slowed down at lower temperatures. Compost microbes will continue to feed on moderate winter days. They, like us, move a bit slower on very cold days.
Where Should Compost Bins Be Stored?
After all of this talk, you should have a good idea of where to locate compost bins in your yard. For your convenience, I have included additional information below.
A Climate That Is Not Too Cold
Keep your compost containers in a place that is not too chilly. Otherwise, you will stymie the composting process. Compost bins should be placed in an area that receives some sunshine.
The sun’s rays will heat up the compost pile, increasing its efficiency and effectiveness. Under complete shade, the compost will get too wet.
Not Too Hot of a Location
A warm spot in your garden can benefit the composting process. However, the placement of your compost containers should be cool. You do not want your compost to be thrown away.
Avoid regions with direct and strong sunlight. You should expose the compost containers to sunshine, but not so much that they get too heated. Composting requires an ideal mix of sunshine and shade.
A Location That Is Not Overly Windy
Wind quickly dries up your compost. You want it to stay moist. You will need to purchase windbreakers for the compost containers.
Generally, your garden will experience wind. As a result, you should avoid leaving compost containers open in windy areas. Otherwise, you will contaminate the compost.
There are no compost bins under a tree.
It is tempting to put the compost bins beneath a tree in a warm environment. However, this is not a smart idea since trees absorb all of the compost’s nutrients and water. Avoid placing compost bins under a tree or large bush.
It is a disaster you do not want to deal with if tree roots begin to develop under the compost. Larger trees with deeper roots, on the other hand, do not provide an issue. They are unable to consume the nutrients and water contained in your compost.
Location That Is Accessible
You would want to maintain the compost bins in an easily accessible place. Keeping them too far away from the home or garden is not a smart idea. You may reach the compost bins using a wheelbarrow, which is a convenient method to transport garden debris.
A convenient location is also beneficial if you want to monitor and care for your compost. Maintain an eye on the compost bins to see whether they need more water or sunshine. You will despise forgetting about the compost and wasting it.
Additional Space Near Compost Bins
You would need more room surrounding the compost containers to facilitate frequent mixing. Additionally, you may empty certain containers if desired. It is ideal if you have enough room around the bins to do your tasks.
Within Reach of Your Plants
Compost is sometimes very heavy, and you do not want it to be carried about by your plants. As a result, I suggest keeping the compost containers close to your plants. It allows you to simply transport it to the plants.
No to the Nearest House
Occasionally, things get out of hand, and you wind up with stinky compost. If you place the compost bins in close proximity to your home, you cannot escape the odor. You do not want the odor to permeate your kitchen.
Another reason to keep compost bins away from your home is because they attract undesirable guests.
For instance, flies and bugs like the compost. Additionally, if they visit the dumpsters, they are likely to pay a visit to your house. Maintain dumpsters at least ten feet from your house to prevent unwanted guests and odors.
Well-drained Area
A well-drained site is necessary for compost bin storage. Compost containers need moisture, but too much water is detrimental. That is why it is a good idea to use an open-bottomed bin.
It is not a good idea to place the compost bins on a rock pavement. Keep them on the soil with their bottoms open. Additionally, avoid sitting water for an extended period of time.
Elevated or Subterranean
Different gardens have varying options when it comes to selecting a high or low location for the bins. Placing them on a high point simplifies the management of barrowloads.
However, other gardeners believe that the dumpsters should be placed on low ground. Why? This is because you can simply handle them. You may find and reposition them as necessary.
Control the Composition of Ingredients
However, regardless of where you live or how much light or shade your compost bin or heap receives, the magic is all in the combination of ingredients. All your compost need is the proper balance of water, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen.
It is not difficult to find the optimal mix of composting materials. It is as easy as sneaking a look and whiffing; you will immediately know whether your compost pile is on track.
If you have not previously composted at home, go select the ideal site for you and your yard, knowing that with a little TLC, your compost pile will flourish in whichever location you love and makes the most sense for your family.
If you are unsure where to begin composting at home, have a look at the materials I have created to teach you all you need to know about composting at home. Where do you store your compost container if you compost at home?
Cautions
Keep in mind that local and county governments have rules governing the location of compost heaps or bins and the need for construction permits. In San Francisco County, California, for example, the size of buildings not needing permits are well defined. Consult your local government before to building a big compost container. Within the confines of the rules, place your compost container in an easily accessible area. Prevent placing the compost pile too near to your garden to avoid attracting slugs and other pests to the decaying organic materials and surrounding area.
Review by Others
Linda Declares:
Compost requires four components: air, water, browns, and greens.
You may compost using either a hot or a cool technique.
To utilize the hot technique, you will need a large amount of material at once; most recommend at least a 3′ by 3′ by 3′ pile. The heated technique produces compost more quickly but requires more effort. Every week or so, you must shred and turn the material.
If you add material gradually, you are utilizing the cold compost technique. It will take 12 to 18 months after you stop adding material, but you will save time since you will not have to flip the pile as often. You must still monitor the pile to ensure it does not dry out.
The current idea is that the hot pile is more effective in destroying weed seeds, but it also destroys beneficial organisms. Because a cold pile does not reach temperatures high enough to kill beneficial insects, it is a superior soil supplement.
Lisa Declares:
I have a compost bin that is much smaller than the 3x3x3 suggested by most (it is less than half the capacity). It is surrounded on one side by a shed and on the other by a fence. Numerous big trees provide shade. I doubt it ever receives direct sunshine. I did not have a compost thermometer until lately, but I now know that my compost has reached at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, even if it does not get heated, it will still decompose, although at a slower rate.
Brian Declares:
No. The light has no bearing on the heat produced by the microorganisms eating that substance. While the sun may warm a compost pile, it has no effect on the digestive process. However, the light may induce moisture loss by heating your material enough to cause evaporation of the moisture you add, thus exposing your compost to the sun may actually hinder the digestion process rather than aid it.
Conclusion
The sun should not shine directly on the bins, since this will cause the compost to dry out. Your compost bins should be placed in an area that is level, well-drained, sunny, and partly shaded. Maintain frequent mixing of the pile.
Daily monitoring of the compost will enable you to take appropriate action. When adding fresh material to the compost, ensure that you incorporate it into the bottom levels as well.