Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

exlibris

I got one of those big plastic compost bins from the council earlier this year from a suggestion on MSE. I have loads of tiny worms gathering round the lid these I know are OK they are sweet too! It also seems to be a breeding ground for slugs. I don't want to increase the already over-population of slugs in the area. I have been told to put pellets in the bin but am not keen on this idea.

Any suggestions please?

schiff

exlibris wrote:

I got one of those big plastic compost bins from the council earlier this year from a suggestion on MSE. I have loads of tiny worms gathering round the lid these I know are OK they are sweet too! It also seems to be a breeding ground for slugs. I don't want to increase the already over-population of slugs in the area. I have been told to put pellets in the bin but am not keen on this idea.

Any suggestions please?

So you've actually tasted them too?? :eek:

schiff

conradmum

exlibris wrote:

I got one of those big plastic compost bins from the council earlier this year from a suggestion on MSE. I have loads of tiny worms gathering round the lid these I know are OK they are sweet too! It also seems to be a breeding ground for slugs. I don't want to increase the already over-population of slugs in the area. I have been told to put pellets in the bin but am not keen on this idea.

Any suggestions please?

Just leave the slugs be. They'll stay wherever there's food for them, and that's your compost bin. The idea of putting pesticides in your compost is a bit mind-boggling!

exlibris

Schiff - no I haven't tasted them yet as they were not big enough!

Conradmum - Thanks. I didn't like the idea of pellets anyway. All I can hope for now is that the all the slugs migrate to my compost bin and leave the lettuce alone!

Guinea_2

thriftlady wrote:

Apparently,there are more ants than usual around at the moment,due to the heat especially flying ants.

My compost has lots of fruit flies,I'm trying to alternate veg=fruit waste with shredded newspaper and egg boxes.

Hi there everyone. Talking about flying ants....a couple of weeks ago when it was really HOT :eek: the compost bin at the back of my garden CAME ALIVE!:eek: Flying ants just kept on crawling, hundred after hundred out of every orrifice of the compost bin and flew off! The ground around was teaming with ants! It was disgusting....but I couldn't help but watch and be amazed at the wonder of it all! Anyway, I was worried about the ants...now I'm not! THANKS!:D

ben500

Guinea wrote:

Hi there everyone. Talking about flying ants....a couple of weeks ago when it was really HOT :eek: the compost bin at the back of my garden CAME ALIVE!:eek: Flying ants just kept on crawling, hundred after hundred out of every orrifice of the compost bin and flew off! The ground around was teaming with ants! It was disgusting....but I couldn't help but watch and be amazed at the wonder of it all! Anyway, I was worried about the ants...now I'm not! THANKS!:D

And this is exactly why you should let the creepie crawlies loose on your compost it can be the most incredible sight.

kiwichick

Thanks for the post about the slugs, I been wondering about my bin this last week. Mine is the big council one too (good deal werent they) its got loads of those big slugs inside. I suppose they help compost the waste as well??? Mine also has ants and woodlice. The kids love watching them all move when I lift off the hemp cover.

conradmum

I've just dug out my compost bin that had been 'maturing' for about four months. It's had ants, worms, slugs, snails and woodlice in it, and it made four bags of the loveliest, richest, blackest compost you ever saw. It was still teeming with worms too. So if you have any of these beasties in your compost, you don't need to worry. The only things you need to watch for is if it's too wet (smelly) or if it's too dry (doesn't rot down). Otherwise patience and nature will do all the work for you.

kiwichick

Conradmum - Can I ask you, when you "harvest" some of your compoast for the garden, do you take some of the worms from the harvested bit and put them back in the bin? I paid for 2kg of worms, you dont wanna know how much they cost me!?!?! I dont want to have to replace them!!!!

conradmum

Hi

I have two bins on the go at once. When one's full and not going down I start the next. (Then I leave the first one to mature over a few months.) I don't put any worms in the second, they just appear. So the short answer is no, I don't bother as I know the worms will come by themselves. They'll also appear if you leave some cardboard laid down on soil for a few weeks. I don't why or how I'm afraid, but brandling worms just seem to appear as you don't see them when digging in normal soil.