On May 19, 11:38=A0am, Des Higgins <dazzhigg...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> 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
m=
e
> > > > because I thought the temperature would get too high. I have a
massi=
ve
> > > > compost heap at the bottom of the garden but this is just one of
tho=
se
> > > > 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
powd=
er
> > > > has compromised that.
>
> > > > I'd be grateful fo rany help with this,
> > > >Chrissy
>
> > > HiChrissy: =A0does it not seem ironic that you are keen on "organic"
> > > herbs and worried about ants? =A0The ants are harmless but the
antkill=
er
> > > 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). =A0Ants
are
> > > common in compost. =A0If the heap stays put for long, they often
build=
> > > nests in them. =A0Putting in any killer is likely to kill all manner
o=
f
> > > other insects that help the compost heap to function well. =A0An
activ=
e
> > > 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
Hi Des
I couldn't understand your post, so read your original reply to me
again & still couldn't detect any sign that you were 'cross' - I don't
take offense easily anyway but really I just found your post helpful.
Thanks for confirming about the wet compost - I have a rain barrel
next to it, so that was easily done.
Chrissy
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