Ants in my compost

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Ants in my compost

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VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 13 3:47 pm Post subject: Ants in my compost
Does it matter? And if so, can I do anything about them? Haven't seen them in the compost before but today found them all over top of it when opened the bin.

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 13 4:10 pm Post subject:
I doubt they will be a problem - they could be building a nest which you might want to disturb if it is in the compost - they will move on elsewhere.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 13 9:28 am Post subject:
They put off a lot of other soil life that help break down the compost & a sign the compost is dry. Turn it & re-wet IMHO.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 13 9:50 am Post subject:
What Tavascarow said. They like it dry and crumbly.

oldish chris

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 13 5:15 pm Post subject:

Tavascarow wrote:

They put off a lot of other soil life that help break down the compost & a sign the compost is dry.
Turn it & re-wet IMHO.

don't forget to consider the nitrogen:carbon ratio. If the lack of decay could be caused by insufficient green stuff, e.g. grass, then you will need extra organic nitrogen.

I could have simply said "Piss on it!", but you may need to explain your actions to partners/neighbours with hygiene fetishes

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu May 02, 13 9:18 am Post subject:

Thanks for all that. It's mainly compost we inherited when we moved into the house. We have been putting kitchen fruit and veg waste on since we arrived December, but there's also quite a lot of dry garden waste. So will check out if too dry.

Looking forward to having chickens again so can add their poop to compost as did at allotment.

And yes, I keep meaning to do the adding wee to compost thing - but probably by some indirect method rather than trying to actually wee on the compost - as it is in those Dalek bins and I am well into middle age and not that fit (and not a bloke!) I think injury to life and limb may be more of a risk than upsetting the neighbours.

Is this too much information??

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Thu May 02, 13 9:21 am Post subject:

VM wrote:

Is this too much information??

Yes

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu May 02, 13 9:31 am Post subject:
Sorry

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