How to Make a Compost Container

Overview

Composting uses yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings to create a nutrient-rich amendment for your garden soil. This not only saves these items from filling up a landfill, it saves you money as you don't have to buy this soil addition. A compost bin helps contain your pile, ensures maximum efficiency when composting and keeps animals from destroying your pile. Making your bin requires only minimal building knowledge and the expensive tools, like the post hole digger, can be rented from home improvement or hardware stores.

Step 1

Measure out a 3-by-3-foot area for your bin, placing a stake or other marker at each corner. Choose a level area that doesn't collect water when it rains or as snow melts.

Step 2

Dig a hole four to six inches deep at each corner with a post hole digger.

Step 3

Cut the 2-by-4s into four 4-foot sections and place one into each hole. Fill around the base of each 2-by-4 with dirt and pack it in tightly to hold the post upright.

Step 4

Wrap a 14-foot length of chicken wire around the outside of the posts to close in the box. Secure the wire to each post with three zip ties or by wrapping heavy wire through the mesh and around the posts.

Step 5

Place twigs or branches in the bottom of the compost bin to keep composting materials above the soil surface. This allows air to reach the bottom of the pile, which speeds up the composting process.