In a wooden composter you compost your garden and kitchen waste in a particularly natural way. After all, wood is a natural raw material that does not pollute the compost with plasticizers and other chemical substances. You can find out what to look out for when buying a wooden composter in our guide. In addition, we recommend several models based on customer reviews on Amazon.
Wooden composters are the elegant, natural option when it comes to composters
Our recommendations
our recommendation
BELKO composter 480L made of wood, 100x100x70cm plug-in system kit, pressure-treated
To the product| Assembly | plug-in system |
|---|---|
| wood type | jaw |
| board thickness | 20mm |
| impregnated | Yes |
| Dimensions | 100x100x70cm |
This wooden composter holds about 480 liters, has a high board thickness, is made of robust pine wood and is also impregnated and can be set up quickly thanks to the plug-in system - all of these are features that basically speak for themselves. If you also take a look at the reviews of the buyers of the composter on Amazon, the first impression is confirmed: the customers describe the wooden composter as very stable. The assembly should also work well as far as possible, although apparently no instructions are included. The reviewers also praise the great optics. With all these advantages, even the surprisingly low price almost fades into the background.
our recommendation
Gartenwelt Riegelsberger wooden composter 90x90xH70 cm pine brown pressure-treated with wooden plug-in system composter compost plug-in composter compost silo
EUR 44.90 To the product| Assembly | plug-in system |
|---|---|
| wood type | jaw |
| board thickness | 16mm |
| impregnated | Yes |
| Dimensions | 90x90x70cm |
The second-placed wooden composter from the Gartenwelt Riegelsberger brand has similar properties to the winner of our comparison. It consists of the same material and is also impregnated. However, it "only" offers space for about 380 liters of compost, as it is ten centimeters smaller in terms of length and width. Amazon buyers define the model as a "good composter" that serves its purpose. Some seem to use it as a raised bed. In terms of quality, it should be satisfactory - a few reviewers point out that the slight dampness of the boards is a sign of the impregnation and is therefore not a flaw.
our recommendation
Gartenpirat composter 90x90 cm with plug-in system made of wood pressure-treated 380 liters
EUR 19.90 To the product| Assembly | plug-in system |
|---|---|
| wood type | mixed wood |
| board thickness | 16mm |
| impregnated | Yes |
| Dimensions | 90x90x70cm |
The Gartenpirat version has earned third place in our wooden composter comparison - in particular due to the excellent price-performance ratio. It is just as big as the composter from Gartenwelt Riegelsberger, but is made of mixed wood. "Practical, inexpensive, simple" is the headline of a review - it perfectly sums up what most customers on Amazon write about this wooden composter. Despite the lack of instructions, it should be easy to put together and then simply do what it is intended for: It gives the compost a stable home for development.
Purchase Criteria
Assembly
Wooden composter to screw together: These wooden composters have to be screwed together slat by slat, which is time-consuming and exhausting on the one hand and requires additional tools and often a second person on the other. But such a kit usually costs less than a wooden composter with a plug-in system.
Wooden composter with plug-in system: These explanations can be set up very quickly. Since the outer walls come pre-assembled, all you have to do is snap them together correctly. Simply follow the manufacturer's step-by-step instructions (if available - otherwise trust your instincts). Tools are generally not required.
wood type
Most of the wooden composters are made of spruce, beech, oak or pine. Rarely do you come across versions made of larch or Douglas fir wood.
tips
Spruce wood is softer and therefore more vulnerable than beech or oak wood. If you decide to buy a wooden composter made of spruce, you should paint it before using it for the first time - with a glaze that prevents gray haze and, above all, naturally increases its service life. Even with the more robust types of wood, this measure cannot do any harm, although it is not absolutely necessary.
thickness of the boards
The simple rule here is: the thicker the wooden boards are, the longer the service life of the wooden composter. A good guideline for the thickness: about 16 millimeters.
weather protection
In order for the wooden composter to have the best possible protection against rotting, it should be pressure-treated, i.e. impregnated. This pressure treatment keeps the composter from rotting for up to 15 years.
Removable side panel
In a wooden composter, the composting process takes much longer than in a thermal composter. To speed up the process, we recommend turning the compost over regularly. The easiest way to do this is if the wooden composter has a removable side wall. The latter also makes it easier to remove the finished hummus.
format
Wooden composters are available in various formats. They exist
- rectangular and square,
- small and big,
- low and high
- without or with a lid and even
- as a raised bed.
our recommendation
Wooden composter, garden composter with lid, wooden composter 76x75x91 cm
129.95 EUR To the productThink in advance how much you want to compost at once and where you want to place your wooden composter. Then you know what to look for.
frequently asked Questions
What is a wooden composter?
A wood composter is a wooden container in which suitable garden and kitchen waste has the space to turn into humus. Composters made of wood are usually built without a lid and are generally very open. This ensures good aeration of the compost. Another advantage comes with the airy construction: The gardener always has an eye on how far the rotting process has progressed and can "harvest" the humus (at the right time) to do the garden soil good.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a wooden composter?
Benefits:
- Due to the natural materials of the wooden composter, the compost in it is never contaminated with chemical substances.
- Wooden composters only need partial shade, so you can set them up unobtrusively under trees at the edge of the property.
- Normally, wooden composters come without a lid. This makes them very easy to fill from above.
- The airy design also ensures excellent air circulation. This keeps the hummus nice and fresh.
- Sometimes wooden composters have a removable wall. This makes it easier for you to remove the finished hummus.
- ##Disadvantage:
- Inside, the wooden slats are in constant contact with the compost. Since they are also a natural material themselves, they also decompose over time. Therefore, the slats have to be replaced from time to time.
tips
Pressure-treated wooden composters have a service life of up to 15 years.
Thermo composter versus wooden composter: What are the differences?
While wooden composters are logically made of wood, thermal composters are made of plastic. These thermal composters, also known as quick composters, are primarily characterized by the fact that the composting process is completed after four to six months. Further advantages and disadvantages at a glance:
Benefits:
- Due to the closed design with a lid, there are fewer unpleasant odors.
- The thermal composter is also protected from rapid cooling and flooding in heavy rain.
tips
Wood composters should be covered with a tarpaulin in heavy rain and extreme heat.
Disadvantage:
- A quick composter needs direct sunlight - it can therefore not be placed inconspicuously in the garden.
- Only a small hatch is available for taking out the humus - this makes things awkward.
- Thermocomposters are expensive to buy.
Where is the best place to buy a wooden composter?
You can find high-quality wooden composters in well-stocked hardware stores such as OBI, toom, Hornbach, Bauhaus, hagebaumarkt, Globus and Hellweg. You can also enjoy a large selection of composters from trusted brands on Amazon, such as:
- Garden World Riegelsberger
- Loggyland
- garden pirate
- Elmato
- BELKO
How much does a wooden composter cost?
Depending on the exact material, the specific quality features and the manufacturer, you pay an average of 25 to 100 euros for a wooden composter. Occasionally there are also cheaper or more expensive copies.
Can I build a wooden composter myself?
Yes, with a lot of manual skills, the right accessories and meaningful assembly instructions, you can also assemble your wooden composter yourself (for example, use the content of the following video as a guide:
But: Keep in mind that the effort (material costs and time) is generally at least as high as when buying a finished wooden composter.
equipment
glaze
With a glaze you can extend the life of your wooden composter. Strike it out before you use it for the first time.
our recommendation
Xyladecor wood preservative glaze 2in1 outside, 5 litres, colourless
EUR 49.90 To the producttarpaulin
In order to protect the open wooden composter in heavy rain and extreme heat, it is best to cover it with a tarpaulin during such phases.
our recommendation