Wooden compost bin: choosing, installing and caring for it so it lasts

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There is something reassuring about a wooden compost bin: it blends into the garden, it ages along with it and it recalls the old compost bays of vegetable plots from days gone by. It is also an excellent tool, provided you choose it well, install it properly and give it a little care.

Here is what you need to know before buying a wooden compost bin, along with a few simple habits that will help it last for many years.

Why wood? Airflow and insulation

Wood has two qualities that matter a great deal for compost.

It lets the compost breathe

Wooden compost bins are generally made of slats fitted together, with small gaps between them. Air circulates through the sides, which helps keep the compost alive and reduces the risk of compaction and unpleasant smells. The wood also absorbs some of the excess moisture, then releases it when the weather is dry.

It evens out temperature swings

Wood is a naturally insulating material. Thick walls offer the compost some protection from the cold in winter and from intense heat in summer, better than a thin wall would. The micro-organisms can therefore work in more stable conditions.

On top of that, there is the matter of looks: a wooden bin fits easily into a vegetable garden or at the bottom of the garden, where a plastic bin would stand out more.

Which size to choose?

The right size depends on the size of your household and, above all, on the size of your garden: a household that only composts its kitchen waste does not need the same bin as a family that also adds grass clippings and fallen leaves. We have gathered all the guidelines in our guide What size compost bin for my household?

Simply bear in mind that a bin that is slightly too big is better than one that is overflowing by April. And if your needs exceed around 1,000 litres, it is better to install two bins rather than one very large one: the first takes the fresh waste, the second holds the maturing compost. With wooden models, this is all the easier as they line up neatly side by side.

Assembly and location

Assembly

Most wooden compost bins can be assembled with few or no tools, simply by slotting the slats together. Assemble it directly where you want it, on reasonably level ground, checking that the sides are upright: a lopsided bin will eventually come apart under the weight of the compost. Depending on the model, a hatch or removable front slats let you harvest compost from the bottom without dismantling everything.

Location

Choose a spot in partial shade, sheltered from the wind, well drained and accessible all year round. Avoid placing the bin right up against a fence or wall: leave a few tens of centimetres all around so that air can circulate, the wood can dry out after rain, and you can turn and harvest the compost easily. Our guide Starting your compost bin step by step covers choosing the location and the first additions in detail.

In contact with the soil: earthworms come up by themselves

A wooden compost bin should always stand directly on the soil, without a base. This direct contact with the ground is essential, for two reasons.

• Drainage: excess water soaks into the ground instead of pooling at the bottom of the bin.
• Colonisation: earthworms, woodlice, millipedes and other decomposers can move freely up into the compost and get to work.

So you do not need to buy worms for your garden compost bin: those in the soil will arrive on their own, all the faster if your soil is full of life. We explain their role in our guide The role of earthworms. If your soil is short of them, for example in a new garden, our guide Reintroducing earthworms into your garden sets out several simple methods.

Did you know?

The red worms found in abundance in a compost bin are not “ordinary” earthworms: they are surface-dwelling worms that live in decomposing matter. They appear spontaneously in a bin standing on soil, usually after a few months.

Caring for the wood so it lasts

A wooden compost bin lives in tough conditions: constant moisture inside, rain and sun outside. It will always age in the end, but a few simple habits will significantly extend its life.

• Let it breathe: the space around the bin allows the wood to dry out between showers.
• Don't let the compost overflow over the slats or pile up against them on the outside: wood that is constantly wet rots faster.
• Check the bottom slats every spring: being in contact with damp soil, they are the first to deteriorate. A weakened slat can often be replaced without changing the whole compost bin.
• If you wish to protect the wood, use only a product of natural origin suitable for the garden, and only on the outside. The inside, which is in contact with the compost, must stay untreated.
• Keep the lid closed during heavy winter rain: it protects both the compost and the wood.

Willy's tip

To harvest without damaging the slats, remove the mature compost through the bottom hatch with a small shovel rather than forcing it out with a fork, and load it straight into a trolley such as our 55-litre compost collection trolley.

What to avoid

Treated, painted or varnished wood

If you build your own compost bin from reclaimed planks or pallets, do not use chemically treated, painted or varnished wood: these products have no place in compost intended for the vegetable garden. For the same reason, painted or varnished wood should never go into the compost bin: take it to the recycling centre.

A bin standing on a paving slab

On a slab or patio, the compost benefits neither from drainage nor from the small creatures in the soil. The liquid runs out and stains, and decomposition is slower. If you really have no other option, spread a few shovelfuls of soil in the bottom of the bin to bring in some life. But on a concrete surface, a rotating composter is often more suitable: we discuss this in our guide Rotating composter.

Turning too roughly

A fork forced against the sides will eventually knock the slats out of place. To aerate the compost inside the bin, an aerator that you push in and then twist, such as our Brass'Compost, is gentler on the wood and on your back.

If you opt for our Compostys wooden compost bin, install it according to these same principles: on bare soil, in partial shade, with a little space all around.

In summary

A wooden compost bin lets the compost breathe, evens out temperature swings and blends nicely into the garden. Choose a size suited to your household and your garden, and assemble it in partial shade, perfectly upright, directly on the soil so that worms and the small creatures of the soil can come and work in it. Leave space around it, keep an eye on the bottom slats and never treat the inside. Avoid treated or painted wood, and choose a rotating model if all you have is a paving slab. Well looked after, a wooden bin will serve you for many years.

Related products

Compostys wooden composter | 305 litres

PEFC-certified spruce wood

£96.62 €115.83

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