BBC Gardeners World Magazine 2026-09-30T12:54:20.000Z https://www.gardenersworld.com/tag/composting/feed/atom Alex David <![CDATA[The best compost bins in 2026, as tested and reviewed by our team of experts]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/which-type-of-compost-bin-is-best/ 2026-09-30T12:54:20.000Z 2026-05-13T10:17:13.000Z

Jump to best compost bins

Compost is nature's gift to your garden, a rich blend of nutrients that not only nourishes your plants but serves as an ideal fertiliser, organic mulch, and soil improver. Making your own compost is a rewarding and sustainable practice that allows you to recycle garden and kitchen waste to provide your plants with the essential elements they need. Simply put your garden waste and some kitchen waste into a compost bin, and it will break down over a year or so to reveal fresh, home-made compost. If you're looking for a compost bin for your garden, they come in a range of shapes, sizes, and prices.

Whether you have a large country garden or a small outdoor space in the city, there are compost bins to suit all tastes and requirements. To help you choose between the hundreds available on the market, we've tested several to provide a broad range of compost bins to inspire your next purchase. We've also got some useful information regarding the different materials that compost bins can be made of, how to choose the best compost bin and what to put in your compost bin.

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Best compost bins to buy at a glance:

Our 3 top-rated compost bins

Also recommended: compost bins

Our expertise

We tested a range of different types of compost bins, using them in the garden for a year to follow the composting process and help you find the right one for your garden. Each bin has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to design, ease of use, compost quality and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on compost bins that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Jump to best compost bins:

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The 3 top-rated compost bins in 2026

1: Maze 180 litre compost tumbler

Our best compost tumbler

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£185.99) and B&Q (£185.99)

Our best compost tumbler

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

Featuring a three-year warranty, this is a well-made and thoughtfully designed compost tumbler featuring two chambers for a rotation of compost making, large opening doors for easy filling and emptying, and a geared turning mechanism. The sturdy handle and gearing marks the Maze tumbler out from the rest, as they make turning the tumbler incredibly easy, even when full. I liked the fact that this gearing also locks the tumbler in position, making it very easy to position the chamber for emptying and likewise filling, and the ground clearance is good at 35cm to the base.

Maze tumbler from Wiggly Wigglers_IRL_1

It’s tall at 109cm which makes it easy to fill and empty, but a slight drawback for me is that the height combined with the bright green trim make it stand out rather too much in the garden. The UV protected barrel holds 180 litres of material and is sturdily made from 90% recycled plastic, with a powder-coated zinc frame that features extra leg bracing, giving it increased stability. Although it took an hour to assemble, I loved the fact that the step-by-step instructions were clear, with the different parts well labelled and actual size pictures of the relevant screws. Jane Moore

2: Green Johanna 330 Litre Food & Garden Waste Compost Bin

Our best compost bin for versatility

RRP: £144.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£134.99), B&Q (£144.99) and The Range (£139.99)

Best Buy most versatile compost bin: Green Johanna 330 litre hot composter

Reasons to buy:

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The Green Johanna 330-litre Hot Composter is well designed, has a good capacity and works effectively for all types of food and garden waste.  The bin is very easy to use. You tip the waste in and don't need to pre-mix, although stirring it from time to time helps add more air and speeds the composting process. Finished compost can be harvested from two wide hatches at the base of the bin, on opposite sides, so it’s easy to shovel it all out.

In a very small garden, it would be possible to have this as the sole composting bin. The Green Johanna is solidly made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and comes with a three-year warranty. Alex David

Read the full Green Johanna 330 Litre Hot Composter review

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3: Suttons Modular Wooden Compost Bin

Our best large compost bin

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£169.99) and  Suttons (£199.99)

Best Buy large compost bin: Suttons modular wooden compost bin

Reasons to buy:

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This traditional wooden compost bin has a huge 573 litre capacity. Made from sustainably sourced Scandinavian softwood, the planks easily slot into upright grooves on the corner posts, and the bin can be accessed from every side. Thanks to its plastic cover, it produces the highest internal temperature of any of the wooden bins on test, guaranteeing fantastic compost. However, you should note that this cover lets in a little rain. Alex David

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Read the full Suttons Modular Wooden Compost Bin review

Also recommended: compost bins

Blackwall 220 Litre Green Compost Converter

Our best budget compost bin

RRP: £42.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: B&Q (£59.99), The Range (£49.99) and Robert Dyas (£55.99)

Best Buy budget model: Blackwall Green compost converter

Reasons to buy:

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The Blackwall Compost Converter consists of a one-piece cone-shaped body made of recycled plastic, with a snug-fitting removable lid and a single hatch. It's very quick to set up - just stand it on the soil, and you're good to go. It's a great option for those who want a simple and affordable compost bin. However, because of its thin sides, it was one of the slowest composters on test, so if you want results quickly, you may want one of the other models featured here. Alex David

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Read the full Blackwall Compost Converter review

HOTBIN 200 litre Composter

Our best compost bin for speed

RRP: £255

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Crocus (£279.99), Thompson & Morgan (£254.99) and Dobies (£245.99)

Best Buy fastest to compost: Hotbin Mk 2 composter

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If you want quick compost, look no further than the Hotbin Mk. 2 Composter. A good option for small spaces, it has a built-in carbon filter to absorb smells, a temperature gauge on the lid and a tank in the base to collect the liquid produced during composting. That said, all waste needs mixing before going into this composter, and it can be a little tricky to access the compost. Alex David

Read the full HOTBIN 200 litre composter review

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a Best Buy award, they still have various features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Outsunny 160L Compost Tumbler

RRP: £59

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Robert Dyas (£54.99)

Outsunny 160l compost tumbler

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A nicely made, reasonably priced compost tumbler that’s compact, yet holds up to 160L of compost material in two separate chambers. Having two chambers is invaluable in a smaller garden like mine as you can just fill one at a time, creating a cycle of making compost rather than just filling and emptying, then starting again. At 92cm tall, with 32cm to the base, it’s a good height above the ground, which I liked as it makes it easy to fill and to tumble, as well as allowing room for a receptacle for emptying. The chamber doors are completely removeable for ease of access, although they are rather small which I initially viewed as something of a drawback.

Image: Jane Moore

At only 22.5cm long by 13.5cm wide, I had to chop all my garden waste up quite a bit to get it in, but that tends to lead to much better compost, so perhaps it’s a plus that gets you into good habits. It took 50 minutes for two to assemble. It’s straightforward, although there are a lot of parts and screws. A screwdriver is provided, but you need a spanner too. With an array of colours to choose from, it’s a good choice for the smaller garden and has a one-year warranty.

Hozelock EasyMix 2-in-1 composter

RRP: £134.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£110.40) and Wickes (£129)

Hozelock EasyMix 2-in-1 composter

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This compost bin is a ‘tumbler’ type, designed to enable the frequent turning and mixing of waste material, and produces compost much faster than a traditional compost bin due to the high level of aeration. It’s smart and well-made, from 90 per cent recycled plastic, and its vermin-proof design enables the composting of both food and garden waste. Thanks to its compact size of 60 x 50 x 65cm, it’s also easy to site almost anywhere. Both adding and emptying waste is straightforward, as the hatch is large and opens and locks smoothly with a chunky knob. There are also plenty of grip points to rotate the drum with relative ease, although once the tumbler is around two-thirds full, this becomes quite hard to do due to the weight. One of its best features is that when the compost is ready, you simply roll the drum off the base to a convenient emptying place in the garden. The nutrient-rich liquid that drains during the composting process is also collected in a tank, which clips onto a garden hose, allowing this useful plant tonic to be easily dispensed when watering.

However, while this bin is clearly solidly made and the product of a carefully thought-out design, there are drawbacks. The cost is high in comparison to the amount of waste it can process and the subsequent amount of compost produced. Another is that it needs ‘tending’ to tumble the waste: not in itself an arduous task, but to produce compost rapidly, this does need regular attention, ideally daily. The air vents do allow small flies to enter, and during warm weather, these fly out in clouds when the hatch is first opened, so opening it and standing back for a minute is advisable. Any garden waste, such as stems and woody material, isn’t suitable to use in this compost bin if the aim is to produce compost in a period of weeks. However, the chief drawback is that this can’t be the only composting solution because the waste needs to be left for a period of a month or so without adding fresh material. This, therefore, necessitates either having two of these composters or an alternative composting solution. It comes with a three-year warranty. Alex David

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Lacewing Easy-Load Wooden Compost Bin

RRP: £84.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£62.98), Primrose (£54.99) and The Range (£62.99)

Lacewing easy load wooden compost bin

Reasons to buy:

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The simple construction of this wooden compost bin allows for a whopping 718 litres of volume. It's made from slats to allow air circulation around the compost, and the front ones are removable, making filling up the bin much easier and allowing lots of room to get at the compost when it’s ready. However, I found that these wide gaps meant that it composts relatively slowly. Made from pressure-treated pine, the slats have a smooth, planed finish and are guaranteed against rot for 15 years. Alex David

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Harrod Horticultural Slot and Slide Wooden Compost Bin

RRP: £199

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Harrod Horticultural (£210)

Harrod Horticulture slot and slide wooden compost bin

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

Producing some of the best and fastest compost on test, this composter is for serious gardeners. It's designed to be modular, so you can add multiple units for extra capacity, and it's very sturdy as it's made of sustainably sourced wood with aluminium fittings. The planks slide out smoothly, so it's easy to add waste and remove compost. However, the lid isn't included, and this composter needs a lot of assembly with power tools, so if DIY isn't your bag, you may want to look elsewhere. Alex David

Garantia 400 Litre Thermo-King Composter

RRP: £94.99

Our rating: 3.8/5

Available from: Crocus (£94.99), Homebase (£87) and Robert Dyas (£86.99)

Garantia 400 litre Thermo King composter

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This plastic compost bin has a great 400-litre capacity. On test, its foamed plastic walls and carefully designed ventilation system helped it handle this volume quickly, producing excellent compost. It's made from 100% recycled materials and includes a wide two-part hinged hatch for easy filling. However, it's a little tricky to assemble. Alex David

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Thermo Compost Bin Komp 420

RRP: £208.88

Our rating: 3.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£183.82)

Thermo Komp 420 compost bin

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

With a robust, sectional design and made from thick recycled plastic, this bin is easy to access thanks to a wide hinged lid. Insulated and vented sides help it compost quickly, and it's available in a range of sizes, from 250L to 700L (pictured). However, we found that it's fiddly to assemble without help, and it comes at a relatively high price. Alex David

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Aerobin 200L Composter

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 3.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£199.95) and Water Butts Direct (£199.99)

Aerobin 200L composter

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

I liked this high-tech compost bin, which, thanks to its internal ‘lung’ to circulate air and a rigid recycled plastic outer shell, produces compost quickly. It's easy to access, but the bin needs a regular supply of ready-mixed waste to maintain temperature, as well as a drainage hose, which isn't supplied. The leachate tank is also tricky to access. Alex David

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Forest Garden Beehive Composter 250L

RRP: £189.99

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£160.99), B&Q (£154.99) and Robert Dyas (£198.99)

Forest Garden Beehive composter 250L

Reasons to buy:

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This attractive wooden, beehive-style compost bin makes a stylish feature in the garden. Made from FSC pressure-treated softwood, it arrives flat-packed, and took our tester a lengthy two hours to slot together and build. It has a hinged lid and a hatch at the base for accessing the compost, and tools, including a drill and screwdriver, are needed to attach both of these. The bin holds 250 litres of compost, although this is more accurately 230 litres when you allow for a gap at the top for air circulation. It’s easy to add material, as long as you’re strong enough to lift the lid with one hand. I fashioned my own prop to hold the heavy lid up while I worked, and it’s a shame that, given the price, one isn’t included with the bin, as it makes a massive difference to ease of use. It’s also awkward to harvest compost from the hatch as material needs to be regularly turned, and so you end up turning and using the compost at the top.

The quality of compost was as you would expect with a cold composting system of this size, and it took 18 months before I had a good crumbly mix. The bin is well aerated, and the secure lid prevents compost from getting soggy from the rain. The bin is also open at the bottom, so it’s ideal for placing directly on the soil, but this does mean that rodents can burrow up into the compost. The bin feels very durable once built, and it comes with a 15-year anti-rot warranty, which, as the wood is in direct contact with the damp ground, is reassuring. The build quality and looks of this bin are its best features, but it’s not for gardeners who lack strength or don’t want to spend time putting it together. Alex David

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Also tested: compost bins

Draper 180 litre compost tumbler

RRP: £123.90 (ex VAT)

Our rating: 3.3/5

Available from: Homebase (£141) and Robert Dyas (£104.99)

Draper Compost Tumbler 07212

Reasons to buy:

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This 180L compost tumbler is easy to assemble and, with its wide opening hatch door, easy and quick to fill. Standing at 81cm tall, its upright style makes it a good compact choice for smaller gardens. However, that upright position did make it difficult to turn when full – it required quite some effort. This tumbler also needs to be positioned on a flat surface as there was only 10cm ground clearance when I turned the barrel to mix material.

Draper Compost Tumbler. Image: Jane Moore

The chamber is easy to empty by simply tipping the barrel into position, locking it in situ, and unloading the compost onto the ground, but the single chamber limited me to making one batch of compost at a time. There are some plastic prongs inside the chamber that aid with mixing and aerating the material, but these worried me as they could become hidden within the compost material and then cause injury. This tumbler has a sturdy polypropylene barrel and stand, with an unspecified metal handle and central pivot, and a one-year warranty. Jane Moore

If you're new to composting or would like more practical tips and information, see our guides on how to make compost and how to make a composting trench. We also have a handy trouble-shooting video on common problems with composting. For tested tools to help with the process, check out our guides to the best spades, electric garden shredders, border forks, gloves, wheelbarrows and best cordless mowers.

What materials are compost bins made of?

Compost bins come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are made using different materials:

You can also make your own compost bin using wooden pallets or corrugated iron. Enclosing the sides will retain heat, which speeds up the rotting process – the larger the pile, the more heat. The ideal minimum size is 1m x 1m and, if possible, make more than one, so it's easier to turn the compost. For more help, take a look at our advice on how to build a compost bin and our guides to the best multi-tools, best cordless drills and best hammers, should you attempt to build your own.

How to choose the best compost bin

When choosing a compost bin, consider the size of your plot, the design of your garden and the amount of compost you'd like to produce.

What to put in a compost bin

Most garden material is compostable, including grass clippings, annual weeds, leaves of perennial ones (not roots, they’ll keep growing) and soft prunings. This ‘green’ material, as it’s often called, would become airless and soggy on its own, so for effective composting, mix with around the same amount by volume of ‘browns’ like chopped-up woody stems, brown cardboard and non-shiny paper. Raw vegetable scraps, teabags, coffee grounds and cut flowers can go in any type of bin, but cooked food, meat and fish must only go in an enclosed vermin-proof design.

Trouble shooting

Balance is key when adding materials to the compost bin, but if your heap doesn’t look quite right, follow these tips:

How we tested compost bins

The bins were assembled and sited according to instructions, and then tested over several months. They were given the required type of waste, and similar bins were given the same mix of waste at the same time. They were assessed throughout the testing period, using the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

For more information on our testing process, take a look at how we review.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.

This Review roundup was last updated in May 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

]]> Sue Fisher <![CDATA[The best wormeries in 2026 – as tested by our gardening experts]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/nature/best-wormeries/ 2026-05-11T17:41:43.000Z 2026-02-11T11:01:36.000Z A wormery is a great way of recycling kitchen and small amounts of garden waste, using worms to turn this material into nutrient-rich natural compost. A sump within the wormery also holds any excess liquid produced during this process, and this can be used to feed your plants, too. Simply drain it with the tap, every few days, dilute it to a 1:10 ratio of water, and you have a nitrogen-heavy liquid feed ready to use.

Wormery composting worms are different species from the earthworms you see in your garden, which aren't suitable, and are known as brandlings, red, manure or tiger worms. They live inside the waste in the wormery bin and, thanks to big appetites and a fast metabolism, quickly break down food waste like egg shells, vegetable peelings and tea bags and turn them into compost for your garden. For help getting started, our helpful step-by-step guide explains how to set up a wormery.

Best wormeries at a glance

Jump to:

Our expertise Getting the right wormery for you means making sure it's the correct size, has an adequate number of trays and is simple to use. We've tested a range of different wormeries and each one has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up, value for money, ease of use and storage. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on wormeries that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list. Every wormery in our round up below has scored a minimum of 3.5 out of 5 stars, so you can buy with confidence.

In every review, we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best wormeries, below.

The best wormeries

WormCity

RRP: £87-£110 (75-125 litres)

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Best Buy stacking wormery: WormCity

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This wormery by WormCity has a large tray capacity of 75 litres, which is impressive considering its size on the ground (75cm x 43cm x 43cm). Our testers found that the deep trays produced a high amount of good-quality compost. We were also impressed by the well-planned design, which features a V-shaped sump and stepped interior. It’s made in the UK from 100 per cent recycled materials, and 500g of worms are included along with food and bedding. We judged this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy as the best stacking wormery.

Read the full WormCity Wormery review

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WormBox

RRP: £92.50

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Best Buy for most versatile design: WormBox

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

Unlike most stacking wormeries, the WormBox model (38cm x 50cm x 50cm) is rainproof. We found it to be sturdy and were impressed with the versatile design, which includes castors for easy moving. Each tray has a capacity of 16 litres, which produces a moderate amount of compost, and the sump works well. Worms and a coir mat are included with the starter model, and there is the option to add a planting tray to the top or use it as a seat, with a load of up to 100kg. A generous 15-year warranty is included, and we awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the most versatile design.

Read the full WormBox wormery review

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Hungry Bin Worm Composter

RRP: £275.00

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Best Buy low maintenance choice: Hungry Bin Worm Composter

Reasons to buy:

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This conical-shaped wormery (60cm x 65cm x 95cm) sits on a metal frame, which is on wheels to make it easier to manoeuvre. It has a total capacity of 80 litres, but the large surface area means worms can process up to 2kg of waste per day. You can access finished compost by unclipping the base, which our testers found to be a simple process. It's guaranteed for two years and is made from between 15 and 20 per cent recycled plastic. We awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best low-maintenance choice.

Read the full review: Hungry Bin worm composter review

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Maze Worm Farm

RRP: £79.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon and The Range

Maze Worm Farm - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This compact wormery (28cm x 38cm x 38cm) features 12 litre trays and a central drain. This model had the smallest capacity of those we tested and took the longest to compost overall, although we found the quality of what was produced to be good. A pull-out central tray harvests small amounts of castings, and it can be customised with a range of accessories. It's guaranteed for one year.

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Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery

RRP: £79.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from: Mano Mano and On Buy

BBC Gardeners' World magazine wormery review Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery Wormery

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This wormery has a neat, square design and is primarily designed for indoor use. It has a smart appearance, although the bright green lid does stand out and may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s quick and easy to assemble and has clearly written, printed instructions. It also has many well-thought-out design features, including two good-sized trays, each with 13 13-litre capacity and lift-up handles, a lid with internal hooks that sits vertically on the edge of the wormery unit whilst filling, and a clear plastic collector that slots beneath the lowest tray to fill with worm liquid. It’s also easy to see the level inside, and it's simple to remove.

However, this collector is small and fills up quickly, so if you’re using it indoors, it can easily overflow and make a mess. This is a particular drawback if you’re away for any length of time, and you’d need to plan ahead and replace it with something larger. Hooking the lid on the side works fine unless there’s condensation inside, which then drips onto the ground. Of course, both these issues wouldn’t be much of a problem if you used the wormery outside, but unfortunately, outdoors, the lid warped very slightly, blew off easily and needed to be weighted down. Most of the worms moved upwards through the wormery into the upper tray containing fresh waste, and this model has good eco-credentials. It’s made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and has a 12-month warranty.

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Urbalive Worm Farm

RRP: from £142.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Urbalive Worm Farm - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

The Urbalive Worm Farm (60.5cm x 50.5cm x 38cm) has a large capacity of 21.7 litres per tray. Our testers liked the contemporary design and larger capacity and found it composted well. The wooden legs were tricky to fit, though, and needed a screwdriver, which is not supplied. We found the mesh “worm catcher” did not work, and if used outdoors, it must be under cover. A two-year warranty is included.

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Original Wormery

RRP: £124.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Original Wormery - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Reasons to buy:

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This single-chamber wormery (73cm x 53cm x 43cm) has an overall capacity of 100 litres. It's styled in a wheelie bin design, including a hinged lid, and is rainproof. The compost is harvested by emptying the bin completely, which means separating it from the worms and unprocessed waste. It's guaranteed for one year.

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If you're interested in other types of composting, see our review of the best garden compost bins and if you're planning on keeping your wormery sheltered or somewhere enclosed, our guides to garden storage ideas and the best garden sheds may also be helpful.

How to choose a wormery

When you're choosing a wormery, there are a few details to consider:

What types of wormeries are there?

Where should I place my wormery?

The optimum temperature for a wormery is between 15 and 25°C; anything above 35°C and your worms won’t be able to survive. You should therefore place your wormery in a sheltered, shaded spot, somewhere you can access it easily to fill it up and drain the liquid a couple of times a week. An outbuilding or porch is a good place, and some models can even be kept in the kitchen. Be aware, though, that they can start to smell if they're left for too long.

What should I put in my wormery?

Kitchen waste is best for a wormery, although small amounts of garden waste can also be added. Raw or cooked vegetables, fruit, coffee grounds, teabags and eggshells are all ideal food for worms. Avoid meat and fish, dairy products and tough woody plant material.

How we tested wormeries

The wormeries were set up in the summer and tested throughout the year. A regular mix of cooked and raw kitchen waste with paper and brown cardboard was added, and their performance was assessed according to the following criteria, each with equal weight:

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Troubleshooting tips for your wormery

Soggy and smelly?

Drain liquid from the new waste before adding, and drain off liquid regularly to reduce condensation. If the model lets in rain, cover loosely.

Lots of tiny flies

These fruit flies, although harmless, can be annoying. Bury fresh waste or cover with damp newspaper or brown card.

Mouldy contents

Damp conditions are essential for worms as they breathe through their skin, so they actually like mouldy food. However, lots of uneaten waste may be a sign that you’re adding too much at one go – little and often is best. Chopping up waste first helps.

What to do in winter

If possible, move your wormery into an outhouse or porch. But outside is fine with care; cover with insulating material, put thick layers of card and paper inside the top, and drain often.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.

These wormeries were reviewed in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[10 New Year gardening resolutions]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/10-new-year-resolutions-for-the-garden/ 2025-12-30T11:54:41.000Z 2025-12-24T10:36:19.000Z What better way to embrace another growing season than by making some new year gardening resolutions? You may want to start composting, dig a pond or mow your lawn more often. Perhaps you’ve vowed to ditch single-use plastic or use water more wisely.

Stuck for inspiration? We’ve come up with 10 resolutions you might consider for the garden this year, along with tips on how to achieve (and stick to) them.

Browse our suggestions for new year gardening resolutions, below.

 

Grow more houseplants

Houseplant display

Growing houseplants has surged in popularity in recent years. It’s no wonder: houseplants can improve air quality in your home, help to relieve stress and aid concentration. They’re easy to grow and many of them will tolerate shade and neglect.

More on growing houseplants:

 

Use less plastic

Hand tools with wooden handles

Many of us want to use less plastic in the garden, from plant labels to watering cans, tools, plant pots and the sheeting used to suppress weeds. Buying (and therefore using) less plastic will not only reduce your plastic footprint, but will also send a message to manufacturers that gardeners want alternatives to plastic (especially single-use plastic).

More on using less plastic

 

Go organic

Watering with comfrey feed

Whether you grow your own food or not, gardening organically is much better for the health of your garden. By not using pesticides, you’ll provide a safe source of food for bees and other pollinators, as well as boosting insect numbers. This means more food for birds and other insect predators, which may then choose to nest in your garden.

More on organic gardening:

 

Compost your waste

beginner gardening tips - make use of compost

Homemade compost is invaluable in the garden, providing you with a fantastic soil improver and mulch, as well as wildlife such as bumblebees and slow worms with a place to live. It's easy to set a compost bin up, whether you buy a ready-made bin or make your own.

More on composting:

 

Be water wise

Installing a water butt

We gardeners use a lot of water to keep our plants healthy. If using mains water, not only does watering cost you money (if you're on a meter), but potentially it can put pressure on water reserves, especially in dry weather. Installing a water butt or three can help you reduce your reliance on mains water. What's more, some plants benefit from being watered with rain water. You can connect water butts to downpipes from the roof or your home, but also assemble guttering systems around the roof of your shed or greenhouse. The more water butts you use, the more water you save.

You can also save water by mulching around plants to prevent evaporation from the soil, using water-retaining crystals in container displays, avoiding using sprinklers and growing drought-tolerant plants.

More on saving water:

 

Keep on top of weeds

View Green Video on the source website

If left to get out of hand, weeds can quickly take take light and nutrients from plants you want to grow. Regularly weeding around cultivated plants can help prevent weeds from growing too big, but few gardeners weed as often as they would like to. Just 10 minutes of weeding before you get started on more enjoyable garden jobs can really make a difference.

More on weeding:

 

Grow more of your own food

Harvesting beetroot

Few gardeners have the time or space to be completely sufficient, but you may enjoy growing a few crops while being rewarded with home-grown veg. Start with easy-to-grow crops such as potatoes, courgettes and runner beans. But, if you're an experienced grower, why not grow a new variety or two each year? Choose anything from a different variety of squash or bean, to more unusual crops such as sweet potatoes, yams and okra.

More on growing your own food:

 

Plant a tree

Planting and watering a peach tree

The environmental benefits of planting trees are clear: trees absorb carbon dioxide, help reduce flooding and can also contribute to reducing urban temperatures. What's more, if you choose carefully, your tree can provide food and shelter for wildlife.

More on planting trees:

 

Welcome wildlife

Bumblebee on scabious

Whether you decide to feed the birds, dig a pond, plant flowers for pollinators or let areas of your garden grow wild for hedgehogs and other small mammals to take shelter, welcoming wildlife to your garden is hugely rewarding. Many species are declining and by gardening for wildlife we can help to boost their numbers.

More on wildlife gardening:

 

Go peat-free

Adding compost to a pot

It's long been cited as an environmentally unfriendly choice when potting up plants, as the removal of peat from peat bogs destroys wildlife habitats, while releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Yet peat-based composts are still widely available to buy in garden centres and nurseries. More peat-free options are becoming available, however, made using bark, wood fibre, wool and coir. While peat-free options have been hit-and-miss in the past, new mixes are proving popular with gardeners, and include seed-sowing and ericaceous formulas. So, why not give it a try? When buying compost, simply check the label to make sure it's peat-free, or buy online.

]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[Five reasons to feed your soil]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/five-reasons-to-feed-your-soil/ 2026-01-31T12:15:30.000Z 2025-12-04T15:21:57.000Z Feeding the soil is the process of adding organic matter to improve its nutrient value, water retention and structure. Organic matter comes in many forms, from home-made compost to well-rotted manure (horse and pig and pelleted chicken manure are popular for feeding garden soils). You can also grow green manures, which you sow on bare patches of earth and then dig into the soil before they flower.

Organic matter is also available in the form of slow-release fertilisers or blood, fish and bone. Organic liquid fertilisers can work to feed the soil but they are mostly taken up immediately by plant roots, therefore giving little back to the soil. Lastly, the 'chop and drop' system of mulching soil with chopped up leaves or grass clippings can also work well, offering a natural, slow-release solution to dry, weedy, nutrient-poor soils.

Why feed the soil?

Feeding the soil increases nutrients and water retention, and improves soil structure. While feeding the soil every couple of years will keep your garden looking good and your ornamental plants growing and flowering well, feeding the soil is much more important in the vegetable patch. After all, your plants are only as healthy as the soil they're growing in – it makes sense to ensure the fruit and veg you eat are growing in the healthiest soil possible.

More on composting and feeding the soil:

We outline five benefits of feeding your soil with organic matter, below.

 

Improve the soil structure

Five reasons to feed your soil

Bulky materials like home-made garden compost, well rotted manure or leaf mould break down and release nutrients slowly. As they break down they're eaten by earthworms and other detritivores, which move through the soil, creating drainage channels. Bulky materials can therefore lighten heavy soils, helping them to drain more easily. On lighter, sandy soils, organic matter helps increase water retention, as the matter is naturally more water retentive than the soil itself. So-called 'sticky' manures, like pig manures, are particularly useful on very sandy soils.

 

Increase soil nutrient levels

Five reasons to feed your soil - increase nutrients

When you add artificial fertilisers to soil you add soluble nutrients, which are washed away if not immediately absorbed by the plants. By adding organic matter, which breaks down over time, you add nutrients that stay in the soil and are absorbed more slowly. All organic matter has nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, plus trace elements such as magnesium, copper and manganese. As earthworms take organic matter into the soil to eat it, they create their own manure. Bacteria, fungi and other micro organisms get to work on the matter as well, which aids the uptake of soil nutrients by plant roots.

 

Be more eco-friendly

Five reasons to feed your soil - applying slow-release fertiliser

Artificial fertilisers come with a high carbon and environmental footprint. They're made with raw materials such as ammonia and phosphate rock. The mining of phosphate rock can cause severe environmental damage, including loss of biodiversity, while the process of converting the raw materials into useable fertiliser involves the use of petrol or natural gas.

What's more, if not absorbed by the plants, artificial fertilisers can be washed away by rains, eventually winding up in rivers. The increase in nitrogen to rivers can cause algal blooms, which can smother and kill all forms of other life in the water, including fish.

Adding organic matter will help you to avoid all of these pitfalls.

 

Save money

Five reasons to feed the soil - green manure seedlings

While some forms of organic matter can be expensive to buy, home-made compost is free. You don't need a compost bin – simply pile compost into a corner of the garden and harvest the compost once a year to add to your garden. Other types of mulch, for example grass and leaf clippings, also cost little, if anything, to produce. Green manures such as phacelia cost as little as a packet of seed. What's more, your local stables might sell manure for as little as a pound a bag, or even give it away for free. Compare this to synthetic fertilisers, which need applying as regularly as every fortnight.

 

Improve the biodiversity of your garden

Five reasons to feed your soil – blackbird taking a worm back to its nest

A garden rich in wildlife comes with free pollination and pest control services. It's also nicer for us – who doesn't love seeing birds, bees and butterflies in the garden?

A compost heap is the perfect spot for a nesting bumblebee, hungry frog or sleeping hedgehog. Bulky organic matter such as home-made compost, leaf mould or well-rotted manure, creates further habitats for beetles, worms, centipedes and other invertebrates on the ground, while it breaks down. This increase in abundance of soil invertebrates means there's more food for animals further up the food chain, including birds and hedgehogs, making your garden alive with food and nesting opportunities for a wealth of wild species.

]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[How to build a compost bin]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-build-a-compost-bin/ 2024-04-02T09:10:47.000Z 2024-04-01T09:42:28.000Z A compost bin gives you the satisfaction of turning kitchen and garden waste into rich, crumbly compost, which you can use as a mulch in the garden or mix with loam and leaf mould to make your own potting mix. What's more, because food and garden waste releases methane (a harmful greenhouse gas) when sent to landfill, composting is good for the planet, too.

There are lots of types of compost bin available to buy, at the garden centre or via your local council, but it's also easy to make your own. All you need is a bit of time, some basic tools and some old pallets.

Our compost bin shopping list

You might already have what you need to get started on making your compost bin. If you don't, we've done the hard work for you with our handy shopping list. 

You Will Need

Total time: 1 day

Step 1

Clear the area where you're going to put the compost bin and, if necessary, level the ground using a spade or a rake. You need to stand the bin on bare soil, not paving. Add a base of chicken wire if you are worried about rats getting in.

Levelling the soil with a spade

Step 2

Take a pallet and stand it on its long edge to form the back edge of the compost bin. Push a stake through the two layers of the pallet at either end, using a sledgehammer to drive them firmly into the ground - about 20-30cm deep.

Fixing the pallet in place

Step 3

Position the remaining two pallets at right angles to the first to make the sides, butting the corners tightly together to stop compost spilling through the gaps. Fix in place with stakes in each corner, as in step 2.

Fixing stakes into the ground

Step 4

To keep the structure stable, wire the pallets together at each corner. Trim the tops of the stakes with a bow saw.

Fixing the pallets together with wire

Step 5

Wire the last pallet onto the front of the right side pallet to make a gate - you'll need to open it when you want to get to the compost – and start filling your bin with garden and kitchen waste. It's a good idea to cover your bin with carpet or other material to keep it warm – this will help to  speed up the composting process. And check that it is moist – you may need to water it lightly in warm weather.

Adding material to the new compost bin

Frequently asked questions

Help! My compost bin is full of slugs Don't worry about slugs or snails in your compost bin. Many slugs are detritivores, meaning that they eat decaying plant and animal matter, so they play a vital part in helping the compost heap break down. When the compost is ready to use as a mulch in the garden, you may find slug eggs. Simply transfer these back into your compost bin so the young slugs can continue to help with the composting cycle.  What base is best for a compost bin? It's best to stand your compost bin directly on the soil, as soil micro-organisms, detritivores and other fauna will have direct access to the heap and help it to start breaking down. However, a stone base, such as a concrete slab, is fine. Just add a couple of spadefulls of garden soil to the bottom of the bin to help speed up natural colonisation, and therefore decomposition.  Help! There are ants in my compost bin Ants are common in compost bins when the material becomes dry – they don't colonise moist heaps. The best thing to do is to encourage them to move on by leaving the lid off the bin for a few hours – this will expose the nest and the worker ants will move it, along with all of the ant eggs, elsewhere. Then, when they have vacated the nest, simply water it to dampen the material, and the composting process will resume. Never put ant powder on a compost heap. Ant powder is designed for use indoors and may have a detrimental effect on the garden ecosystem, including other invertebrates like worms and spring tails. If using the compost to grow vegetables, ant powder could also end up contaminating your food.

]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[Composting Christmas]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/premium/composting-christmas/ 2025-02-12T14:58:20.000Z 2022-12-16T09:41:01.000Z Christmas is typically a time of great extravagance, when bins overflow with unwanted food, paper wrapping, cardboard boxes and even old “stuff” that has been replaced with new. It doesn’t have to be like that. There’s plenty you can compost at home to reduce the amount of food and other waste sent to landfill.

More expert advice for composting:

Here, Kate Bradbury explains how to compost the Christmas excess:

View Green Video on the source website

Food

If you’ve cooked too much food it’s always worth trying to save it rather than let it go to waste. Invest in some Tuppaware boxes now and use them to store leftovers that you can reheat and enjoy the following day. Small amounts of meat (off the bone) can be fed to your dog or left for foxes. However, there will still be some food waste and a lot of that can be composted.

We gardeners all know that kitchen scraps and vegetable peelings all compost beautifully, especially when mixed in with grass clippings and woody waste from the garden. If you have a Hot Bin like I do, you can also add cooked food and things like cheese and small bones. You can also compost cooked waste, meat and or bones if you use a Bokashi bin, which 'pickles' the waste, aiding its decomposition before heading to the compost bin.

Cardboard

It’s estimated that 300,000 tonnes of card packaging are used during the festive season, which is enough to cover London’s Big Ben almost 260,000 times. A lot of it is recycled but not all of it. But cardboard is gold dust to us gardeners!

Cardboard boxes can be flattened and used in no-dig systems – simply lay them on the ground, weigh them down with bricks or stones and cover with compost. Or you can tear them into small pieces and gradually add it to your compost bin, like I do. Earthworms seem to love cardboard and will quickly eat it and turn it into lovely rich organic matter.

Make sure you remove all Cellotape from the cardboard (you should do this before recycling anyway) and any traces of plastic packaging. Tear the boxes into small pieces and add to the bin, making sure you mix it with green waste such as vegetable peelings and grass clippings.

Wrapping paper

Now, while I wouldn’t compost any old wrapping paper, I can and do compost some. Anything that’s shiny or covered in glitter is a big no – this can’t even be recycled. And most papers are coloured with harmful inks that you wouldn’t necessarily want in your soil.

My best tip for wrapping paper is to open your presents carefully and then gently fold and reuse the wrapping paper the following year. That way it doesn’t end up in landfill and you save yourself money as well!

But plain brown paper, along with 'eco' wrapping paper that’s decorated using vegetable-based inks can be composted. The key here is to buy plain brown or eco paper and encourage others to do the same.

As with cardboard, add small pieces at a time and mix well with 'green waste' to ensure it breaks down evenly. You can scrunch paper into a ball, which will help to create airflow in the heap as well.

]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[Tidying the garden in autumn]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/tidying-the-garden-in-autumn/ 2026-07-21T09:17:51.000Z 2022-09-29T07:00:46.000Z Autumn is the ideal time to give your garden a thorough tidy, before the cold weather sets in.

As well as clearing fallen leaves, there are lots of other simple tasks (Premium) that will make a big difference to the look of your garden.

Don't forget your garden's wildlife - discover four essential autumn jobs for wildlife.

It's worth putting in a little extra time and effort now, so your garden will look neat and well-tended through the winter months - it will also mean that you've got a head start next spring.

Tidy your borders

Clearing old stems and foliage from a border

Remove dying leaves and collapsed stems from herbaceous perennials, either pulling by hand or cutting at the base with secateurs. Leave any stems that have attractive seedheads for birds to enjoy. Remove weeds, then spread compost or well rotted manure over the soil to insulate plant roots - the worms will work it in over winter.

Collect autumn leaves

Tidying the garden in autumn

A few piles of leaves in out-of-the-way places - under hedges, for example - can provide shelter for overwintering wildlife. But remove leaves from your lawn, paths (which can be slippery) and borders. Use them to make leaf mould, a great soil improver.

Autumn leaves fall in huge quantities during October and November, quickly covering lawns and borders. Left in place they can smother grass and fill the crowns of herbaceous perennials, sometimes killing them. In this short video guide, Alan Titchmarsh demonstrates how to quickly rake up fallen leaves without damaging your plants. He explains why this needs to be done and shares advice on turning your harvest into soil-conditioning leaf mould:

View Green Video on the source website

Clear away old crops

Cutting down old vegetable plants

Clear spent plants on the veg plot before they start to rot and become host to pests and diseases. Compost everything unless it’s diseased. Chop beans and peas off at ground level, leaving their nitrogen-fixing roots in the soil to feed next year’s crops. You could also sow a green manure, a great soil improver.

Leave your lawn looking trim

Cutting a lawn edge

Nothing sets off borders better that a neatly cut and edged lawn, so mow for the final time. Set your mower blades higher than usual to leave the grass slightly longer over winter, then cut the edges with an edging tool or knife to redefine their pristine lines.

Put away plant supports

Removing old runner bean stems from a wigwam support

Cut down annual climbers in borders and climbing beans in veg plots and remove the dead stems and foliage from their supports. With canes and other removable wooden supports, wash off any soil then treat them with preservative. Store them indoors over winter.

Make repairs

Painting wood preservative on a fence

Repair damage to raised beds, sheds and compost bins, and paint them with wood preservative. Replace any rotting fence posts, so they don’t get blown down in winter storms. Ensure shed roofs don’t leak, and replace any broken panes or faulty vents in greenhouses.

Clean out nest boxes and feeders

Washing a bird feeder

Take down bird boxes and empty them. Old nesting material, unfertilised eggs and other debris may carry diseases, so wash out the boxes with hot water before putting them back. Also remember to clean out feeders and bird baths, and regularly refill them.

Sort out your pond

Scooping autumn leaves from a pond using a net

Scoop out leaves that have blown into your pond, before they sink down and start to rot. Also cut back the foliage of marginal pond plants that have died down. Remove pond pumps and fountains that are no longer in use. Wash them out thoroughly, then store over winter.

]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[August wildlife gardening with Monty]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/premium/clip-collection/august-wildlife-gardening-with-monty/ 2025-02-12T14:58:33.000Z 2022-07-29T15:40:13.000Z There's lots to consider when gardening with wildlife in mind, from the creatures that help create compost, to the choice of plants to grow in your wildflower meadow. Watch Monty Don as he takes a look at the wildlife in his compost heap, advises on how to weed a wildflower patch and plants up the base of a hedge with plants for pollinators.

More wildlife gardening advice

How to nurture wildlife within a compost heap

View Green Video on the source website

Monty delves into his compost heap to discover the insects that call it home, from brandling worms to woodlice and spiders.

How to weed a wildflower patch

View Green Video on the source website

Monty shares tips on how to remove unwanted plants from your wildflower patch, making sure that the plants that you want to self seed are kept, and the ones that you don't are removed.

Planting up the base of a hedge

View Green Video on the source website

Monty shows how to plant up the base of a hedge with plants that can cope with dry shade. He chooses evergreen ferns, and winter and spring-flowering plants like cyclamen and primroses that will provide early nectar for bees.

]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[How to set up a wormery]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/maintain-the-garden/how-to-set-up-a-wormery/ 2024-02-09T02:12:45.000Z 2022-05-09T11:08:06.000Z One of the most efficient ways of recycling kitchen waste is to use a wormery, or worm bin. These purpose-built containers house a colony of brandling worms, which consume fruit and vegetable waste, producing a nutritious worm compost.

As well as producing a rich compost, wormeries also generate a nutritious liquid fertiliser. Vegetable waste is largely made up of water, and this will drain down through the bin to collect in the bottom. The resulting liquid can be retrieved through a tap in the base of the bin. It's a good idea to keep the tap permanently open and collect drips in a bottle or bucket below.

A wide variety of wormery kits are available to buy. Most of them consist of three or four modular trays placed on top of each other. As the worms consume the waste in the bottom tray, they move up to the next one. Simply remove the bottom tray to access the worm compost, rinse it and place it on the top, and continue to add fresh veg peelings.

Wormeries are easy to set up, but if yours is delivered by post, make sure you set up the bin within two days, as the worms may not survive if they are not quickly transferred into their bedding.

You Will Need

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Set up a wormery - putting the wormery kit together

Attach the legs and tap, add a single tray to the base unit, and then lay a sheet of paper in the tray.

Step 2

Set up a wormery - soaking the coir worm bedding

Soak the worm bedding block (made of coir compost) in warm water, before breaking it up into a friable mass.

Step 3

Set up a wormery - adding in the wetted worm bedding

Cover the paper with the compost bedding mixture, spreading it out in an even layer.

Step 4

Set up a wormery - spreading the worms out over the bedding

Spread the worms out over the bedding and they'll quickly start burrowing down into the material.

Step 5

Set up a wormery - allowing the worms to burrow down

Cover the worms and bedding material with a thin layer of well-chopped vegetable peelings. As these begin to rot, the worms will be able to start feeding on them. Most kits also come with a mat that should be used to cover the material to maintain moisture in the bin.

Step 6

Set up a wormery - covering the worms with vegetable waste and moisture mat

Finish by putting the lid on the bin, then move it to a warm and sheltered spot, out of direct sunshine. Regularly drain liquid from the bin, and dilute it with 10 parts water, to use as a fertiliser.

Move the wormery to a frost-free place during winter, as worms may die if left outside.

Gardening gloves. Photo: Getty Images.

]]> Kay Maguire <![CDATA[Lasher Ecobarrow review]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/lasher-ecobarrow-review/ 2022-09-08T10:46:36.000Z 2021-11-12T13:59:34.000Z Buy the Lasher Ecobarrow from Primrose

What are the main features of the Lasher Ecobarrow?

Made from robust, high density polyethylene and nylon this single wheeled barrow has a pneumatic tyre, two U-shaped tipping bars and the 70 litre tray is deep and funnelled at the front. The handles are ergonomically shaped but are smooth with no grip.

What’s the Lasher Ecobarrow like to use?

With clear, simple instructions it takes just a few minutes to put this barrow together with a screwdriver. Once assembled it’s very light and easy to manoeuvre and use and feels well balanced, tipping well. It also stands up easily when not in use. The four ply tyre gives a smooth, cushioned ride and the rim is made from moulded polypropylene so it’s light and rustproof. The nylon frame has gripped feet to help keep it stable and its light and comfortable to push, it just lacks any grip on the handles, which sit well in the hand but may get slippery if working in the wet - wearing gloves would help improve grip. The tray is UV stabilised, easy to keep clean and feels tough and hard wearing. We particularly love the tapered front which makes it easy to tip out contents and helps it slot in between plants when weeding or pruning in beds and borders.

Who is the Lasher Ecobarrow most useful for?

Capable of carrying heavy as well as smaller loads this can transport anything but hot ashes. It’s light enough for everyday gardening tasks and for anyone who lacks storage space, needs to store outside and doesn’t want to worry about rust and decay.

Is the Lasher Ecobarrow good value for money?

This is right at the top of the price scale in our test, however its eco credentials are outstanding and it's light and easy to use with a well thought out design. It comes with a five year warranty and we think it’s good value for money.

Our experts have tested some great kit to give you a helping hand if you're tidying the garden. Our round up of the best leaf blowers and leaf vacuums might be of use, and if you're keen to get composting see our guide to 13 of the best compost bins: which is the best?

For more tools, read our best garden spades and best border forks guides.

This review was last updated in November 2021. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

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