On May 18, 11:39 am, Chrissy <ms_cris...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On May 18, 10:44 am, Des Higgins <dazzhigg...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On May 18, 6:28 am, Chrissy <ms_cris...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
> > > I have discovered there are ants in my compost bin which surprised
me
> > > because I thought the temperature would get too high. I have a
massive
> > > compost heap at the bottom of the garden but this is just one of
those
> > > plastic bin things.
> > > I've also been informed that someone put any killer powder in there
a
> > > few months ago. So, 2 questions I'd love answers to, why are there
> > > ants, I've never had a compost before where I could see 'creepy
> > > crawlies' in it & secondly, is the compost safe to put on my herb
> > > garden, since it's had poison in it.
>
> > > I've been trying to grow organic herbs but feel this ant-killer
powder
> > > has compromised that.
>
> > > I'd be grateful fo rany help with this,
> > > Chrissy
>
> > Hi Chrissy: does it not seem ironic that you are keen on "organic"
> > herbs and worried about ants? The ants are harmless but the antkiller
> > will technicaly make yer organic herbs not organic if you use it.
> > Just dump the current compost somewhere harmless (use it as a mulch or
> > dig it in where you do not mind if it is organic or not). Ants are
> > common in compost. If the heap stays put for long, they often build
> > nests in them. Putting in any killer is likely to kill all manner of
> > other insects that help the compost heap to function well. An active
> > compost heap will have tons of creepy crawlies (worms are the most
> > useful).
>
> > Des
>
> I wasn't worried about the ants as such, I have a corner of my garden
> left pretty much for wildlife, I love most creatures (not mosquitoes
> or bluebottles) & am a vegan so wouldn't use poisons anyway; it was
> someone I have in to help me, that obviously thought it was a good
> idea. I was concerned that, if they were in the compost, the compost
> heap was maybe not working properly, thanks for reassuring me about
> this.
Sorry for sounding cross; some people get freaked out by
invertebrates.
Good luck with the herbs; Anthony is right about ants liking dry
compost heaps;
they do not go for soggy ones.
>
> I'll use this compost around my roses & other flowers but not near any
> edibles; I don't know what type of ant killer was used but imagine
> that the active ingredient might break down anyway & that even if it
> didn't, the plants wouldn't take it up?
> Thanks again for a really useful reply.
> Chrissy
|
