Using a compost screen to filter the material in your compost pile will give you a fine top-dressing

A compost screen will allow you to filter the materials in your compost pile, providing a fine textured material that is perfect for a seed starting mix or top dressing. A compost screen is easy to make and makes working with material from your compost pile much easier.

Without a compost screen, you will tend to get bits and pieces of materials in your compost pile that are not fully decomposed. When you add this mix to your vegetable garden straight from compost piles, it can make it harder for some plants to grow.

A compost screen removes all these large pieces from your compost pile, leaving you with a nutrient-rich soil.

To make a compost screen you will need the following materials :

• 72” of scrap lumber – 1x3 is strong enough, but 2x4 will work fine as well.
• 72” of quarter-round molding
• 2’ of either ” or ” galvanized mesh
• Nails
• Staples
• Carpenters’ glue

Cut the lumber into 2 x 20” and 2 x 15” pieces. Cut lap joints at both ends of each of the 4 pieces. Square up the frame, glue the joints and then nail them together. Cut the galvanized mesh to the size of your square and then staple it to the frame. The size of the mesh is up to you, depending on how fine you want the compost screen to filter your compost pile.

When you attach the mesh to the compost screen, keep it taut enough so it doesn’t sag when you put compost pile material on it for screening. After attaching the mesh to the frame, nail the quarter-round over top of the edges to keep the sharp points from stabbing you when you use the screen.

With this compost screen, you’ll be able to get a finely textured, natural fertilizer from the materials in your compost pile or compost tumblers. After you screen the materials, anything left on top of the screen can go back into the compost to continue decomposing.

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