Ants in my compost!

illusio

We had ants in our compost bin last year - left the most wonderfully tilled soil behind! Rather hoping they set up home again this year

SAMHP_2

Agree with Illlusio - ants in the compost bin should do more good than harm as they will aerate the contents of the bin for you.
On the other hand, if you've got ants in a bag of compost you're just about to use for, say, potting up, this may cause a problem in that they will disturb the roots and the plants won't thrive -happened to me a few years ago. To get rid of them, spread the compost out in the sun somewhere and hopefully they'll get the hint and leave
SAM

Jake'sGran

Davesnave wrote: »

As the ex-owner of a motor cycle, who was unfortunate enough to have a drunk pee in his petrol tank, I can tell you urine does nothing for acceleration!:rotfl:

On a serious note, is it supposed to be man pee, or is that something else I'm thinking about?

Male or female will do. It's one of Bob Flowerdew's suggestions and he grows fantastic veg etc.

Jake'sGran

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Not true I'm afraid, veg peelings, tea bags, egg shells, any of those will attract rats into your bin, not to mention that a nice warm dry home will do the same.
"Eeek Rats!" etc etc and not bother getting one.

Didn't know that! Maybe it depends where people live but I have never heard about anyone seeing a rat in this area. If I ever did see a rat that would be the end of me and composting. Don't mind squirrels and birds which we get a lot of. My compost bin was FOC from the local council. It's shaped a bit like a Dalek and sits on soil. there is a opening at the bottom front with a slide up door in it.

SAMHP_2

When I did my training to become a 'master composter' for the county, we were told that the thought of rats taking up residence in the compost bin was the biggest reason that put people off.
Apparently, the easiest way to deter rats from taking up residence in your bin (apart, obviously, from excluding meat and food scraps other than veg peelings) is to give the bin a good kick or a thump with a large stick or similar every time you are passing - rats simply don't like to be disturbed (who does?) and will get fed up and find somewhere else to live. We have 3 bins and always put in veg peelings but perhaps becuase we tend to fill them daily we've never had a problem with rats.
SAM

Jake'sGran

Hello Sam
I will carry on using veg peelings even though Lotus-eater says not to.
Also, I don't use egg shells as they don't seem to biodegrade like the other
things do. The garden is looking good anyway- I'd include a photo here but I'm having trouble mastering the technique of downloading one. Di

Davesnave

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Hello Sam
I will carry on using veg peelings even though Lotus-eater says not to.
Also, I don't use egg shells as they don't seem to biodegrade like the other
things do.

I don't think LE meant you should not do this. He was just pointing out that rats like nice cosy bins, regardless of the exact things people put in them. The decomposition/sunshine on the outside makes it warm, and the lid keeps it pretty dry.

Lotus-eater

Dave got it right, I wasn't saying not to use veg peelings at all, I was saying they might attract rats, which they might. What I actually said, was use wire under the bin and this will stop any problems you may have.
Banging the bin with a stick is all very well, but a meal is a meal and the odd bang to the outside of your house is a small price to pay for a square meal.

Jake's gran, you may not have seen any rats, but there are probably some around somewhere close to you.

Valli

for the ants in the bag in the greenhouse I'd get another bag, take both outside and decant the compost into the new bag...the disruption will encourage them to go elsewhere. Failing that just tip the compost out..get out of the way and then rebag it once they have gone.

I was very impressed with the neat little heap of brown compost in my compost bin last year until I realised it was an anthill!

TheMoneySpider

I have to admit I put an ant trap in my bin when I found it crawling with ants but apparently they aren't that bad...they provide extra heat which is primarily what helps your heap. They never seemed to be attacking the worms, I just didn't like having a huge ants next next to my house.