Allotments 4 All
News:
Picture posting is enabled for all :)
Home
Forum
Help
Search
Calendar
Gallery
Chat
Login
Register
Allotments 4 All
»
Allotment Stuff
»
The Basics
(Moderator:
Admin aka Dan
) »
Topic:
Ants in compost heap
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
Author
Topic: Ants in compost heap (Read 3604 times)
Moggle
Hectare
Posts: 1,458
My island home is waiting for me
Ants in compost heap
«
on:
March 20, 2005, 09:59:27 »
I'm sure there was a posting about this a while ago, but can't find it.
Mother-in-law has ants infesting her compost heap, which is a plastic dalek-type. She says contents are very slimey, it's mostly grass clippings I think.
Any ideas on how we can get rid of them?
Thanks all
Logged
Lottie-less until I can afford a house with it's own garden.
windygale
Acre
Posts: 455
http://spaces.msn.com/windyspot/
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #1 on:
March 20, 2005, 10:47:38 »
Hi Moggle, How's things, this is a couple of way that i would try to clear an Ant problem in a compostbin, Empty the compostbin and refill the bin every eight weeks, this upsets the nest order, when refilling the bin add straw, scrunched up paper & cardboard, more veg peelings to the mixture as this will help to dry out the contents and increase the heat and drive a lot of insects from the bin and speed up the time that you can use the compost, and the last resolt add some ant powder in sugar on a small plastic dish on top of the heap, the ants will eat and take the mixture in to the nest and kill the others,
hope this helps
windy
PS any more pics of your lottie
Logged
my allotment
heaven
quinny
Quarter Acre
Posts: 89
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #2 on:
March 20, 2005, 14:12:04 »
I've got ants in my composter (Dalek type) too - I thought they were cool but harmless - Should I be getting rid o' them?
Logged
Quinny
http://allaboutquinn.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/
dibberxxx
Hectare
Posts: 1,550
The Mad One!
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #3 on:
March 20, 2005, 20:59:21 »
i have loads of centipedes in my compost heap are they good or bad don't really like them as they make me cringe should they be there or not
Logged
kenkew
Hectare
Posts: 4,336
Don't look now but...
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #4 on:
March 20, 2005, 21:32:09 »
Centipedes are on the good guy list.
Logged
wardy
Hectare
Posts: 3,953
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #5 on:
March 20, 2005, 21:34:54 »
You need insect life in your bin. If there was no sign of life in your bin then your compost would be dead which is no good ;D
Logged
I came, I saw, I composted
Doris_Pinks
Hectare
Posts: 5,430
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #6 on:
March 21, 2005, 12:13:52 »
Got mice in mine! ;D Better than the rats I had last year! ;D ;D
Logged
We don't inherit the earth, we only borrow it from our children.
Blog:
http://www.nonsuchgardening.blogspot.com/
aquilegia
Hectare
Posts: 3,590
hello!
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #7 on:
March 21, 2005, 12:14:40 »
Ants in the compost heap means the compost is too dry - add more water!
Logged
gone to pot :D
wardy
Hectare
Posts: 3,953
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #8 on:
March 21, 2005, 22:21:54 »
I think the mice have left my compost bin. I got really nervous every time I had to take the lid off in case one jumped on me ;D I plucked up me courage and gave it a good stir up so it's probably disturbed them. I felt guilty then for being a home wrecker :(
Logged
I came, I saw, I composted
Mrs Ava
Hectare
Posts: 11,743
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #9 on:
March 21, 2005, 22:36:34 »
Try keeping the lid off for a couple of days, especially when rain is forecast. That is my trick, drives the ants out, drives the rats deeper! >:( >:(
Logged
Moggle
Hectare
Posts: 1,458
My island home is waiting for me
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #10 on:
March 22, 2005, 11:06:48 »
Cheers everyone, will try either watering it or letting the rain get to it.
Logged
Lottie-less until I can afford a house with it's own garden.
Clayhithe
Acre
Posts: 270
Easy does it
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #11 on:
March 25, 2005, 23:21:06 »
Mrs C has a gadget like a walking stick with two hinged flaps at the end. As she pushes it into the heap the flaps close against the stick: as she pulls it out the flaps open and pull a wide hole in the compost.
It stirs it up wonderfully; easier than turning the heap. It also stirs up the insects.
Logged
Good gardening!
John
ina
Hectare
Posts: 1,945
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #12 on:
March 25, 2005, 23:28:13 »
Ohhhhhh, that gadget sounds great, just what I need. I've never seen anything like that, was it made for that purpose?
Logged
http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/
Clayhithe
Acre
Posts: 270
Easy does it
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #13 on:
March 26, 2005, 15:41:39 »
" Made for the purpose; sold at many garden centres. Can also be used to stir mixtures of commercial preparations such as vermiculite and sand. The blades rarely chop up the worms!"
Quote from Mrs C
Logged
Good gardening!
John
ina
Hectare
Posts: 1,945
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #14 on:
March 26, 2005, 16:17:18 »
I'll have to take a look around here in Holland for one of those.
Logged
http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/
gingerninja38
Quarter Acre
Posts: 80
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #15 on:
March 31, 2005, 23:48:03 »
i got mine from here, mind you ordered it from the paper catalogue not online!
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/
Logged
ina
Hectare
Posts: 1,945
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #16 on:
April 01, 2005, 16:44:16 »
Ah, a compost airator, took me ages to find it hehehe. Going to look into ordering from here.
Logged
http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/
Merlins Mum
Hectare
Posts: 744
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #17 on:
April 02, 2005, 19:32:25 »
hi gingerninja38
I have been hunting for a compost airator for ages, so many thanks for the website. :)
MM
Logged
Svea
Hectare
Posts: 1,618
...getting the hang of things...
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #18 on:
April 02, 2005, 19:56:11 »
i had ants (again) in my heap today when i checked - i watered it a bit. i think it does get hot in my composter (black dalek) as the sun heats it up. does that help the composting process, too?
it had certainly reduced in size since last time i added substantially to it :)
svea
Logged
Gardening in SE17 since 2005 ;)
ina
Hectare
Posts: 1,945
Re: Ants in compost heap
«
Reply #19 on:
April 02, 2005, 23:45:48 »
I'll be the proud owner of a compost aerator in a few weeks, hurrah.
Logged
http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
« previous
next »
Allotments 4 All
»
Allotment Stuff
»
The Basics
(Moderator:
Admin aka Dan
) »
Topic:
Ants in compost heap
anything
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal