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Composting in Winter – The Answers

Here we answer some common questions about composting in winter months.
Holding fresh compost

Composting in Winter – Can I Do It?

Composting in winter is possible depending on where you live. Active composting requires a consistent outside temperature of 40 degrees or more. So, if you live in an area with temperate winters (southern most states of the US), keep composting. The process may slow down a bit, but there is no reason for you to stop. In other parts of the country where winters are colder, composting is best put on pause until warmer temperatures return.

composting in winter

Can I Compost Indoors Instead?

If you have a heated shed or garage, you can move your ComposTumbler indoors. You’ll want to be sure to put it in an area where its okay to get a little messy from loading/unloading and liquid drainage (compost tea).

What About Material That is Still Inside My Composter Drum?

Put it to work! Your gardens and beds will thank you for a nice, layer of compost. During the winter months, the soil will draw nutrients from the compost to replenish what was used during the past growing season. So empty the drum and spread it around. Even if it is not completely finished, compost will provide valuable benefits to your soil.

winter composting

Do I Need to Perform Any End of Season Maintenance?

Just give your ComposTumbler a quick cleaning. Use a hose to rinse out the inside of the drum and let it air dry by turning it so the door face down. Doing this at the end of every composting season will help ensure a long life and inhibit any corrosion. Covers are also available for some Mantis composter models.

Do I Have to Throw Away Compostable Material During the Winter?

Don’t throw it out, save it! Leaves, kitchen scraps, and paper products can all be saved easily, giving you plenty of material to work with once the weather warms up.

Any remaining leaves that weren’t composted during the fall can be stored in bags. The same is true for paper products. Place your old newspapers, unwanted mail, printer paper (don’t forget cardboard, paper towels, napkins, etc) in bags as well. They can all be stored out of the way in the yard, shed or garage.

As for kitchen scraps, we recommend an inexpensive plastic container or trash can with a lid. Make sure its large enough for a winters worth of material. Leave it outside and add material to it as needed. The cold will help preserve it and prevent decomposition.

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California Prop 65 Information

www.p65warnings.ca.gov

This warning pertains to the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 commonly referred to as Proposition 65 which requires warnings about chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more than thirty years this law has required businesses selling products in the State of California that may expose persons to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm to provide special warnings. The Proposition 65 regulations have recently changed and effective August 30, 2018, new requirements apply to the content and location of certain Proposition 65 warnings. In response to these changes, Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. is providing the warning you see on the product web page you viewed prior to linking to this explanation. The company has the same warning on the product associated with that product web page. The regulatory agency in the State of California responsible for Proposition 65 has made additional information about Proposition 65 available on its web page: https://oehha.ca.gov/propostion-65.

The company is also party to a 1995 consent decree entered into together with many other manufacturers of covered products (as defined in the consent decree) and for those products the company has, in addition to the warning referred to above, also included the Proposition 65 warning mandated by the consent decree in the owner’s/operator’s manual for the covered product.

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Free Border Edger Attachment ($49.95 value)
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