I never screen mine. I haven't got the stomach to rub all those worms through the grates.

I don't screen mine, either. I often use half done stuff on my planting beds. To keep the lawn from looking like you threw your garbage there, you could just toss the compost around on the lawn before mowing- that would chop it up into smaller pieces.

Karen

Put the fine stuff you put through the screen on your lawn. Put the rest of the compost in a flower or vegetable garden, where lumps don't matter. Long ago I screened part of my compost once, a PITA indeed! Now I just put it in lumpy, and if there are big chunks places I don't want them, e.g., where I am about to sow small seeds, I just remove those surface chunks, e.g. peach pits.

Personally I don't consider my lawn worthy of compost. If you make your lawn healthier it will just grow faster and need to be mowed more often . . .

Marcia

Throw, mow and go.

Works for me.

"Throw, mow and go."

I think I like that idea.

I've been screening mine when I use it on the front lawn, but maybe if I toss it around just before mowing, I can skip screening and still have it look good. I'll try that when the current batch is ready to use.

"Throw, mow and go." love it. i think i might have to borrow that idea. although, what if all that hard work get's stuck to the bottom of the lawnmower?

It shoudn't stick to the lawnmower unless it's too wet. Just let it dry a little.

Karen

There is no way I would screen my compost with a ¼ inch screen, my arms would fall off. Better to screen with ½ screen if screening is needed. I get a lot of leaves and other materials throughout the community; screening removes a lot of the trash found in the materials (glass, plastic, nails, lawnmower parts, that kind of stuff).

I also agree that I would never put any compost on my lawn, unless it was very small and I like mowing my lawn twice a week. Its bad enough that the soil microbes migrate into the lawn from the garden, but there is nothing I can do about that. If one is getting their composting materials from their own property there should be no need to screen IMOÂ

Blutranes

When I feel the need to screen 1/2 done compost my green metal mesh garden cart becomes my screening tool. I spread a layer of compost in the bottom and shake the cart back and forth using the handle and rub the compost around with my hands if necessary. Before I start I put a tarp or big sheet of plastic underneath. Big stuff goes back, small stuff get used. Works for me.

I wouldn't say you HAVE to screen but it keeps the big stuff out of the way and leaves something for the worms to live in. I use a 1/4" screen myself and the product is like nothing you can buy. Oh yes, it's a lot of work and I wouldn't do it if the garden was any larger.

Don't worms like chunky stuff? I always have about a billion worms curled up in my eggshell halves and lobster claws.

I'd sift compost for my rows, maybe, but I really think that, generally, rough compost is better for your garden. Powder fine soil is, strictly in my opinion, part of the problem with conventional gardening theories.

SCREEN compost?!

Now, mind you, when you send your compost to me for inspection and certification, it does help for it to be screened. (Be aware that the International Compost Inspectors and Putrescible Operators Union (ICIPOU) reserves the right to not return your compost.)

Of course you don't HAVE to screen your compost. You slackers, you. :)

I've been using unscreened compost this year, in my potato beds and in my propagating baskets. I do pick out the large chunks by hand, and pitch them into the current compost pile for another go; but I haven't sifted any compost yet this year.

Here, we throw and mow, and as I mow over the lumps of partially composted newspaper and dried chunks, they explode into confetti, a cloud coming out of the side discharge. My kids sit on the porch and applaud uproariously. We try to time this for 4th of July celebrations, for obvious reasons.

LOL well i tell ya, ya'll are a definate hoot!! so i've definately learned don't screen, throw and mow!! and let it go out the side so the kiddo's can applaud big time!! LOL YAY BABY!! LOL i'm there!! only my son does the mowing, i'm still wanting a homemade tumbler!! thats' my bigtime want!@! :'))

I've been screening my compost. Anything that gets caught in the sifter gets tossed into the other compost bin. What I get is nice, fine medium brown stuff. Looks like soil but much better.

But then I throw a lot of stuff in there that apparently takes a while to break down.

Of course you don't HAVE to screen your compost. You slackers, you. :)

Ya, you DO have to screen, but only after you've finished ironing the cat.

Too many sticks and acorns in mine not to screen. Maybe I should be more careful with what I stick in.