How to Make a Mulch Bin for Kids

Grass, leaf litter and loose bark all make for suitable mulch.

Teaching children about "green" gardening can include many elements including composting, planting, weeding and mulching. A relatively simple concept for kids to understand is placing mulch over the soil to keep water-stealing weeds away, and being able to make that mulch is a hands-on, visual task. Before the kids can spread homemade mulch, make them an accessible and safe mulch bin.

Things You'll Need

• 14 boards, 2 by 4 inches, 3 feet long
• Drill
• Galvanized screws
• Chicken wire
• Wire cutters
• Staple gun or U-shaped nails
• Hammer, if needed
• 2 hinges, 4 inches long
• Hook and eye latch

Instructions

1. Lay four of the boards out to form a square frame. Use two screws at each corner to secure the frame and attach the boards together. Repeat this step to make two more square frames. Set one frame aside.

2. Stand two of the frames upright running parallel to one another to be the sides of the mulch bin. Space the two frames 3 feet apart.

3. Place one of your two remaining boards at the bottom, back of the frames to connect them. Screw through the board and into the frames to secure. Place the remaining board 3 feet above the bottom board to run across the top, back of the bin. Secure the board with screws.

4. Cut a piece of chicken wire to approximately 3 by 13 feet in size. Wrap the wire around the outside edges of the frame sides and back to close in the bin. Fold any raw edges of wire under and use a staple gun or hammer U-shaped nails to secure the wire around the bin.

5. Cut a second piece of chicken wire to 3 by 3 feet. Lay the wire piece over the frame set aside in Step 1 and secure it to the frame with staples or U-shaped nails to form the door of the bin.

6. Hold the door to the open side of the mulch bin and align the sides. Attach hinges 2 feet apart along one side of the door to mount it to the bin. Close the door and mount a hook and eye latch to the opposite side of the door about 2 feet off the ground. Place the bin in a convenient area for kids to get to.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage the kids to help gather dried leaves and grass clippings to be added to their bin at any time of the year.

• Regular mixing of the leaves and grass inside the bin can allow children to see how the material is breaking down and know when leaves are about the size of a quarter for spreading on the garden or around trees.

• Check and curl under any rough edges of the chicken wire around the outside of the bin to avoid cuts.

References

• "Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to Gardening"; Carroll C. Calkins; 1993
• "Grounds for Improvement"; Dean Hill, Jackie Taylor; 2007