Compost bin can aid gardening success, says K-State expert
McKernan says bin helps to keep materials packed together
At a glance: The practice of composting speeds up the decomposition process of organic materials. K-State horticulture expert Matt McKernan outlines how to build compost bins for beginners.
More information: Matt McKernan, hortsupport@ksu.edu
Related: The Composting Process
August 19, 2026
K-State Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Beginning composting? Kansas State University horticulture expert Matt McKernan recommends using a bin to ensure a successful compost pile.
“A number of things are needed for building a compost pile, including a bin, a source of water, ‘green’ materials, and ‘brown’ materials,” McKernan said.
Green materials include wet and fresh materials, such as grass clippings, food scraps, weeds, or manure. Brown materials include dry material, such as fallen leaves, sawdust, newspaper, and wood chips.
A bin will help keep all the compost materials packed together and speed up the process, he said. By ensuring the pile is properly constructed, it will also ensure the compost pile generates enough heat to destroy pests and disease organisms.
Choosing the right compost bin is relatively simple. First, McKernan says to ensure the size of the bin is adequate.
“Our goal is to have a bin that will hold at least a 3 X 3 X 3 foot high mound of material,” he said. “Anything less than this and the process will be slow and will not produce sufficient heat to kill insect and disease pests.”
For home gardeners, McKernan said a 5 x 5 x 5 foot bin is the maximum size that could be easily handled.
Although compost bins can be purchased, they can just as easily be made or repurposed from other materials. McKernan recommends a bin made of discarded pallets or a ring of woven wire.
“If space allows, a three-bin system is ideal,” McKernan said. “One bin is used for holding materials until enough have been collected to make a complete compost pile; another bin holds the materials that are actively decomposing; and the third holds finished compost.”
McKernan also provided a helpful YouTube video on choosing a compost bin.
McKernan and his colleagues in K-State's Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.
Interested persons can subscribe to the weekly newsletter, or submit their garden and yard-related questions, by sending email to hortsupport@ksu.edu. More information also is available at your local K-State Extension office.
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K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the wellbeing of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit https://extension.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.