Any serious gardener will tell you that feeding your plants, whether they are flowers, shrubs or vegetables, regularly with a liberal dose of healthy compost will give them a much needed boost. Our soil is constantly being depleted with its nutrients being sucked out on a daily basis and composting is an economical and environmentally friendly of putting some of the goodness back, literally by using materials that you would normally throw away.

But how, exactly, do you set about making the magical concoction that is compost? A quick browse of the Internet or trip to your local gardening centre or plant nursery may well leave you feeling confused and disheartened as there are any number of compost bins out there, all claiming to offer the greatest benefits to your garden vegetation. So lets take a look at some of the basic models on the market and see if we can narrow down your choice:

Static Composting Systems – At its most simple, this is the humble compost heap that so many of us remember from our childhoods. The main things to consider if you decide to make compost this way is how much waste you are likely to use and so how big your compost pile will be, and its position in your garden. Ideally, it should be in sunlight, as heat helps to get the composting process going and also tends to deter vermin, and on clear ground, so that worms and useful bugs can access it. And don’t forget that you also need to be able to get at it easily – very probably with a wheelbarrow.

You can make a simple structure to contain your compost heap using virtually anything from old bricks or planks of wood to wire mesh, or you can choose to buy a specially designed bin, usually made of plastic. Many local councils sell such compost bins through their websites in an attempt to foster greener living practices in their residents.

The downside of any static system is the lack of movement and you will find that your compost ripens quicker if you move it around occasionally. This means that you may have to try tossing it by hand with a spade or fork to get things working faster and more efficiently.

Aerobic Compost Bins – This is the next step up from the traditional heap and there are dozens of aerobic composting bins out there, many with ingenious design features that get air, and so valuable oxygen, into your grass clippings and kitchen waste etc as quickly as possible. Most rely on some form of ventilation system allows your composting matter to breathe, and so mature, at a faster rate than if it was left alone in a pile and many have different chambers that the vegetable matter moves through as it turns from food and garden waste into nutrient rich compost. In addition, some require you to pump or stir the contents of the bin occasionally to assist with the breakdown of its contents.