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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

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

I've got ants in my composter (Dalek type) too - I thought they were cool but harmless - Should I be getting rid o' them?

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

Centipedes are on the good guy list.

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

Got mice in mine!  ;D  Better than the rats I had last year! ;D  ;D

Ants in the compost heap means the compost is too dry - add more water!

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  :(

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!  >:( >:(

Cheers everyone, will try either watering it or letting the rain get to it.

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.

Ohhhhhh, that gadget sounds great, just what I need. I've never seen anything like that, was it made for that purpose?

" 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

I'll have to take a look around here in Holland for one of those.

i got mine from here, mind you ordered it from the paper catalogue not online!
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/

Ah, a compost airator, took me ages to find it hehehe. Going to look into ordering from here.

hi gingerninja38
I have been hunting for a compost airator for ages, so many thanks for the website.  :)
MM

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

I'll be the proud owner of a compost aerator in a few weeks, hurrah.