Topic: Ants in the compost.

[garden fairy]

Don't know if this the right forum for this and please remove it if it's not.
We have just been to the compost bin and it seems we have an ants nest we are not sure if this is good or bad, If bad what do we deal with it. If the compost is to dry as i have read somewhere can i pour boiling hot water on it to moist it again?
Sorry about all the questions.
  Debby

[Georgie]

Ants will not do any harm but they are an indication that your compost is too dry.  I'd add a little water - not boiling because you will unwittingly kill off beneficial insects - and try to ensure that you are adding a mixture of green and brown waste in future.

G x

[okra]

I also noticed ants eggs yesterday - will have to start a urine collection which I dilute down and add

[Robert_Brenchley]

I get ants in my bins every year; they love the extra warmth under the lids. I just ignore them, and they go away soon enough.

[garden fairy]

Thank you all for answering my question. We've add more water and also turned them both.
Sorry for more questions what does urine do for a compost? and how often do you need to do it?

[Georgie]

Urine is a natural activator which speeds up the composting process.  I don't use it myself as I find the right mix of ingredients works fine without the need for activators.  I have no idea how often you should use it I'm afraid.

G x

[Robert_Brenchley]

A lot of things lack the nitrogen which bacteria need for decomposition; this becomes available to plants once the compost breaks down. Pee adds this; just damp it down a bit occasionally. I only do it in early summer when the seeds are growing like mad and I need things to rot down fast to make space in the bins.

[stanley]

We had that problem and found the answer - move house.

It worked for us.

[wilko]

Don't no about ants in the compost, I've got ants everywhere  ::) I keep having a peek at the seedlings I've sown outside, and there awash with ants >:( I've never had the problem so bad before, must be the dry spring !!!!  ???

[sutton girl]

Ihave ants near my carrots do they eat the carrots  or should i leave them alone

[saddad]

I leave them alone unless they are a real pain in the legs/ arms...
 ;D

[LesH]

       Ants like dry conditions. If in the compost bin take the lid off and leave off until the compost has been well soaked by rain, or put a watering can full of water in to the bin.

[telboy]

I p*ss in my compost bins. Is that a problem? I think not!

[cambourne7]

Hi

Not a fan of creapy crawleys, but i have bees in my bin, i think there in the back of the bin in the pallets :-)

Only found them when i move the compost from one bin to another.

Decided to re-layer all the old stuff that was not rotted with some fresh stuff.

Gave it all a good soaking ( with rain water that was in my wheelbarrow not pee  :P ) and topped the whole thing with a carpet.

Cambourne7