How long does it take for garden mulch to occur? Can I use grass clippings in this tumbler? What can I feed the dead vegitation to get mulch?
274576
I don't add grass clippings because the lawn is sprayed with chemicals and I want the compost for the vegetable garden. You can use a product to speed up the compost, but also keep it in a sunny spot, the heat will help. And a tip, I have found that adding the paper from my shredder supplies plenty of browns to keep the smell under control, lots of browns are key. Assembly takes some time and is a bit awkward in spots; even with the help of my mechanical engineer father we still spent a few hours (and had to take apart one section to re-do), but it's not hard. I'm ready to get a 2nd one so that one can be loaded while the other cooks. I don't add grass clippings because the lawn is sprayed with chemicals and I want the compost for the vegetable garden. You can use a product to speed up the compost, but also keep it in a sunny spot, the heat will help. And a tip, I have found that adding the paper from my shredder supplies plenty of browns to keep the smell under control, lots of browns are key. Assembly takes some time and is a bit awkward in spots; even with the help of my mechanical engineer father we still spent a few hours (and had to take apart one section to re-do), but it's not hard. I'm ready to get a 2nd one so... » Read More I don't add grass clippings because the lawn is sprayed with chemicals and I want the compost for the vegetable garden. You can use a product to speed up the compost, but also keep it in a sunny spot, the heat will help. And a tip, I have found that adding the paper from my shredder supplies plenty of browns to keep the smell under control, lots of browns are key. Assembly takes some time and is a bit awkward in spots; even with the help of my mechanical engineer father we still spent a few hours (and had to take apart one section to re-do), but it's not hard. I'm ready to get a 2nd one so that one can be loaded while the other cooks. « Show Less
274577
Kitchen waste to grass clippings, buy a few bags of compost maker. Compost in 4 to 8 weeks.
274578
You can add grass clippings. It would take about a month to have great compost if everything is just right. I've had mine for 3 months and continually add to it and will do that until it is full. There are products you can buy to speed up the process. I've had luck in years past adding composted manure to compost to give it a boost. This tumbler is awesome but was very time consuming to assemble by the way.
449792
I have had the best results with small, green branches and the least with grass-like plants and larger branches or dry ones. I usually end up with a pile of mulch where I have to separate the longer, stringy pieces from that which I can really use for mulching around the garden. I burn what I can't use ( maybe 15%.) You could bag it and put it in the trash. This unit will take care of a good part of our waste with the rest that's too big going to the landfill.
2078217
Pat, There's no real trick just be sure that small turned up slots are on the top of the blade and everything else will fall into place. If you have a deflector to cover the grass discharge it will greatly improve the performance of the cut & mulch.
885060
Mine came with a mulching insert. I believe the all do. You could probably get away with out it but the grass clippings will get stuck in the area that the mulching insert occupies. I have never used the bagger. I always mulch. Good Luck!
1803112
Depending on the size of the yard, I am not sure how well it would work with grass clippings. The issue with the bagger is that it becomes very heavy, and that results puts a significant strain on the cords that are fastening to the mower. I've struggled with my bag, as it has become more of a pain to keep it fastened tightly to the mower resulting in just as much time as it does just to empty my double bagger.
655631
It's going to take a while. I put the plastic product down in June, in Maryland, and much of it is still there. This product is designed to deteriorate very slowly, to allow the vegetation to grow through and over it. If you want it to degrade, get the excelsior (wood) product.
1607694
I use the edger to make a vertical cut straight down, all along the edge of the bed, and then follow up by using a pointed shovel to dig a roughly 45-degree cut on the inside of the edge of the bed (about 4-6" away) to where the vertical cut is. Then I dig out the sod or dirt from the trench I've created and haul it away. Mulch the bed and fill the trench with mulch too, and you have a clean edge on a nicely-mulched bed. This blog post (not mine) has a good explanation: http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2012/07/how-to-edge-flower-beds-like-pro.html (I use wood chip mulch to keep down weeds instead of leaving the edge uncovered (nature abhors a vacuum and will soon cover the dirt with weeds). Hope this helps -- the Radius edger works pretty well for me too, in case you were wondering.
469800
Hi there Bob. The biggest difference is that with a mulcher, the shape of the deck and the blade causes the cuttings to be cut over and over due to air flow. When the cut particles are small enough from the repeated cutting they are pushed down to the bottom of the lawn, where they disintegrate and add natural nutrients to your lawn. I hope this helps. All I use is a mulcher and I have the greenest lawn on my street. Good luck with whatever decision you choose.
2269662
I agree with the others that it is not easy. I only used the catcher once since it is very small and fills up quickly. I ended up getting the mulching kit and have been very happy using that.
523211
I am new to gardening of any sort, but the advice an experienced gardener gave me for raising vegetables was: you can mix equal amounts of garden soil and composted matter that comes in a bag. I got the organic. You might also like to add a little fertilizer. I filled the Keter to the line between the woven base material and the solid band at the top. It did sink a little after a rain. So far our kale, onions and tomato plant seem to be thriving. Good luck. Hope your garden is everything you would like it to be.
1042372
I keep adding to my compost all winter. I just don't turn it over as often, maybe once every 2 weeks or so. While nothing will "cook" during the winter, you'll have fresh material on standby for when it does start to warm up. I suppose my only tip would be to make sure you add material to it during the daytime and make sure your composter stays in a sunny spot. The door can freeze "shut" at night due to the lower temperatures and any moisture along the track.I've already been through one winter with it and I sincerely had no issues and didn't have to make any changes to the way I used the tumbler. I keep adding to my compost all winter. I just don't turn it over as often, maybe once every 2 weeks or so. While nothing will "cook" during the winter, you'll have fresh material on standby for when it does start to warm up. I suppose my only tip would be to make sure you add material to it during the daytime and make sure your composter stays in a sunny spot. The door can freeze "shut" at night due to the lower temperatures and any moisture along the track.I've already been through one winter with it and I sincerely had no issues and didn't have to make any... » Read More I keep adding to my compost all winter. I just don't turn it over as often, maybe once every 2 weeks or so. While nothing will "cook" during the winter, you'll have fresh material on standby for when it does start to warm up. I suppose my only tip would be to make sure you add material to it during the daytime and make sure your composter stays in a sunny spot. The door can freeze "shut" at night due to the lower temperatures and any moisture along the track.I've already been through one winter with it and I sincerely had no issues and didn't have to make any changes to the way I used the tumbler. « Show Less
2053156
I don't use a grass catcher. Unless you wait until your lawn is overgrown, you shouldn't need one. Besides, the mulched grass makes great "food" for the lawn. If I were to look for one, I would probably google black & decker. If they make one, that's were I would expect to find it.
1942847
The compost tumbler has two chambers. On average it takes 4-6 weeks to fill a chamber. Once filled you start filling the second chamber. Once the second chamber is full the kitchen scraps in the first chamber has had a long time to break down into fine compost. You then empty the first chamber and continue filling it alternating the chambers. So the first time you use the composter you might have to wait 8-12 weeks before you get actual compost but after that initial face the. You'll get compost every 4-6 weeks depending on how much you use it and if you have bough kitchen scraps to fill it on a daily basis. The compost tumbler has two chambers. On average it takes 4-6 weeks to fill a chamber. Once filled you start filling the second chamber. Once the second chamber is full the kitchen scraps in the first chamber has had a long time to break down into fine compost. You then empty the first chamber and continue filling it alternating the chambers. So the first time you use the composter you might have to wait 8-12 weeks before you get actual compost but after that initial face the. You'll get compost every 4-6 weeks depending on how much you use it and if you have bough kitchen scraps to fill it... » Read More The compost tumbler has two chambers. On average it takes 4-6 weeks to fill a chamber. Once filled you start filling the second chamber. Once the second chamber is full the kitchen scraps in the first chamber has had a long time to break down into fine compost. You then empty the first chamber and continue filling it alternating the chambers. So the first time you use the composter you might have to wait 8-12 weeks before you get actual compost but after that initial face the. You'll get compost every 4-6 weeks depending on how much you use it and if you have bough kitchen scraps to fill it on a daily basis. « Show Less
201958
It is chopped up and falls to the ground right where the front leg/bar is in the picture.. I thought about using plastic drop cloth to catch it and then spead the mulch around in my flowerbeds. I currently scoup it up and place it in a wheel barrel.
1803113
So far we have used the bag for leaves. We are on a wooded lot. Of course, lawn clippings are included with the leaves. My husband bought a total of 3 of these bags. He is able to do both our lawn and the neighbors lawn (we have suburban size lawns). He can fit 3 bags in the back of his small pickup to get to the compost site. He says that these bags are saving him a ton of time. We have had several neighbors stop by to find out where he got the bags.
838468
I would rather buy a blower/mulcher in 1. It will be faster. Just vacuum the leaves and empty the bag into a pile or the trash when full.
2211079
green or dry grass clippings are too heavy. Just till the grass clippings, as they are, in the garden with nitrogen to break down the clippings. The suction is best on dry leaves and lighter things.. Even the very expensive suction units struggle with damp or wet things. Good luck, Brian