Compost piles in garden are unsightly if not properly held up. It is important to keep compost piles in proper structure and convenient location.

Composting Structure

The most common composting structures are barrel composters and holding units. Holding unit is just a square or circular space in the garden surrounded either by redwood slat, snow-fence or cement block. Barrel composters are more elegant but also more costly. Barrel composters are rotating structure with internal fin for aeration.

Comparison Of Barrel Composters And Holding Units

Holding units is easy to construct using redwood slats for bin-type structure or chicken wire, snow fence for wire fencing. Holding units tend to compost slower in terms of creating finished compost, as they are not turned as frequently. It is easy to add materials to the holding unit but it is not as convenient to turn the pile. There is also pest problems if the food wastes are not properly sandwiched between other yard wastes.


The advantage of a barrel composters over holding units is that organic materials can be easily turned simply by rotating the barrel. A barrel composter is relatively easy to construct. Commercial barrel composters are also available at a price.

Advantages Of Barrel Composters

Though relatively expensive than the holding structure, Barrel Composters occupy much less space and require little efforts to produce finished compost. By manually turning the barrel composters frequently, finished compost can be made within short time. Gardeners who are especially conscious of aesthetics always prefer rotating barrel composters.


Turning barrel composters is effortless and it provides much better aeration then the stacking of compost piles in holding unit. Fins inside barrel composters keep material well aerated, speeding up the composting process significantly.


Compared to holding unit, barrel composters reduces composting efforts by 75% and composting time time by 90%