Best garden composter

The garden composter is every avid gardener's little secret to growing flourishing organic flowers and veggies. By mimicking the natural processes that occur in damp rich soil, these backyard powerhouses can convert kitchen scraps or yard waste into useful soil amendments. With all the garden composters out there, it's easy to get lost in the mix. Here are some of the best units which stand head and shoulders above the rest.

The FCMP Outdoor composter eliminates the need to mix your compost by hand thanks to the convenient tumbling design. The unit has two compartments that allow one batch of scraps to finish while you're starting a fresh batch on the other side, resulting in a steady supply of compost for your green thumb. The unit has a durable BPA-free, UV-resistant plastic construction complete with a galvanized steel frame, so you won’t need to worry about harmful toxins or rust.

If you have a large back garden and wish to tackle your composting in style, then the GEOBIN composter is for you. It's more like keeping a traditional compost pile but in a neater setup. Whilst the GEOBIN offers a massive 216-gallon holding capacity, it's still expandable to allow you to increase bin size when the need arises. The simple yet efficient design retains heat and moisture while ensuring maximum ventilation for accelerated decomposition. 

The Miracle-Grow composter has a compact footprint, perfect for a backyard with limited space. With two separate chambers, you can add a fresh batch of scraps to one side while the other side is curing. And, since each chamber tumbles on its own axis, you only need to rotate the side that is ready for turning. This stylish, all-season tumbler includes a side locking mechanism and sits on a sturdy metal base. 

This outdoor compost bin has a functional tower design, making it easy to add food and yard scraps from the top and access ready compost from the bottom sliding door. With about 110 gallons of space, this bin can hold a lot of food and yard waste at once, so you can be sure it won't overflow too quickly. The black BPA-free plastic construction is quite durable and great at trapping heat to accelerate decomposition. Plus, a secure lid helps keep critters at bay.

Thoughtfully designed to fit urban and country lifestyles, Nature's Footprint worm composting system is great for year-round use. This modular bin consists of four trays that stack on top of one another with the worms starting on the bottom tray. Each of the trays has a grid bottom so worms can work their way up as a fresh batch of scraps is added. At the bottom of the unit is a convenient worm tea collection tray fitted with a dispensing spigot.

Repurpose your kitchen scraps

With the right garden composter, you can gradually nurture your green thumb while cutting back on the need for chemical amendments and fertilizers. In general, the size of your yard as well as how much compost you need will determine which composter is right for you.

For an uninterrupted flow of fresh compost, grab the FCMP outdoor dual-chamber composter. This tumbling composter has a convenient dual-chamber design that enables you to start a new batch of compost even before the previous batch is finished. 

If you'd like to start vermicomposting, the Worm Factory 360 composting system is worth every penny. This durable, stackable, and modular worm composting unit has such a small footprint but produces a decent amount of compost, making it great for smaller yards or apartments.

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At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As experts, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your life. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. Our detailed product overviews balance objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is easy.