Why Do You need a Compost Aerator? 

Aerobic organisms need oxygen to survive which is why they need proper aeration. Aeration helps in reducing the high moisture content in composting materials.

The main reason for using aerators is to get the best compost in the fastest possible time.  To ensure good quality compost, you need to physically turn your compost pile using a fork or any of the tools mentioned in our review.

What is Composting? 

Recycling food waste and other organic materials have many benefits. All organic matter like food scraps, leaves, and organic matter will eventually be decomposed.

We can turn this waste into organic fertilizers that can improve the soil nutrients and grow healthy plants through decomposition.

There are two types of backyard composting:

1.Cold Composting

It is slower since you have to let mother nature do its course and let the aerobic bacteria decompose the organic matter with minimal intervention.

It may be slow, but the advantage is required less effort, work, and maintenance.

It usually works well in a small home where organic waste comes from consumed food and vegetables. But there is also risk like the development of fungi, worms, bacteria, and other organisms that will be a health risk. 

2. Hot Composting 

It is more labor extensive but is faster and can produce compost for your garden plants and vegetables in s shorter time. Hot composting becomes successful when you balance brown waste, green waste, air, and water.

Green waste is usually food scraps, coffee grounds, and fresh grass clippings or fresh leaves. On the other hand, brown waste is branches, paper, dead leaves, and twigs. 

Hot composting also needs constant aeration to maintain the air supply for aerobic decomposition. 

Benefits of Composting

• Reduces waste
• Reduced methane Gas emissions
• Reduce food Waste
• Improve the health of the soil
• Lessens soil erosion

Different Types of Soil and Compost Aerators 

Tool manufacturers have created soil aerators that come in many types, prices, and sizes depending on your needs and the design that fits your style and requirements.

Some compost aerator tools are manufactured using an all-steel construction, while others use composite materials.

But they have the same objective, which is to enhanced aeration. 

Many of these aerator types have been discussed above in our review.

Spike Aerators

These are handheld aerators with sharp long spikes that are pushed into the soil to improve air circulation.

They often have padded handles with tines or sharp points at the end of the shaft used to penetrate the maximum depth of 

Rolling Aerators

It is basically a metal drum with spikes attached to its rolling surface. You only need to roll the drum over the ground and aerate large portions of land.

Rolling aerators can come in many sizes, from portable ones for average-size compost piles to large pieces of machinery for farms with a huge compost pile. 

Aerator Shoes

They are shoes designed with several long spikes attached. They are designed to be worn by the owner and used to walk around to puncture the ground and improve the amount of air in the soil or compost pile. 

Hand-cranked Aerators

These are aerators designed to breakdown hard and compact soil for air to come and aerate the soil.

They are often made from rust-resistant steel material and designed with an easy-crank handle and uses a spiral turn action to disturb the soil and create pockets of air between the composed pit or soil. 

Perforated Pipe Aerators

These are horizontal pipes with holes placed around them. The perforated pipes are placed between layers of composed and then pumped with fresh air that will aerate and hasten aerobic decomposition. 

They are great for large-scale aeration since they can cover large areas of compost heaps. 

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Aerator for Your Compost

Aeration is critical to have the best possible compost for your plants. But choosing among the compost aerator list can be difficult.

Are you going the buy the best and most expensive item on the list or choose the most value-for-money option.

Here are some things to consider before buying your compost aerator.

1. Budget

How much are you willing to spend on your compost aerator? Your budget will determine the kind and quality of aerator that you will purchase.

You can consider a lot of budget-friendly options in the review. If you are a little low on budget, choose a cost-effective alternative.

There is a list of products in our reviews that you can choose from.

2. Size of the Area or Compost Pile

If you will use the aerator in a small area, I suggest choosing the smaller and cheaper hand aerators. They are practical, easy to use and are very cheap.

For medium size areas or farms, you can try using perforated pipe aerators.

They can easily do DIY, just buy all the needed materials such as pipes and air compressors and assemble them on location.

For larger areas, you can consider rolling aerators because they can cover large areas with less time. 

3. Soil or Compost Type

The type of soil or compost can help you determine which aerator is best for you. Do you have dense compost piles?

What type of soil are you using? Is it soft loam soil or a little rocky?

Look at the different products on review or products posted on Amazon and see which aerator matches your needs.