grrr..compost is more ants than compost

 Typically I would not care that my compost pile moves across the yard
because it is more ants than compost; however, I need to shovel most of it
up to put in the new bed so I can have it ready for fall plantings...grrrr

Ideas?

 

Oh dear...

I had that problem once!

I imagine you don't want to use pesticides at this point?

You COULD drown them out, but that will really increase the weight of
the shovel fulls!

You might also try a big bag of DE (Diatomacious earth) and mix it in
well to dry them out and kill them.

Good luck! I know what a PITA that can be.

If they were fire ants and it were me, I'd carefully apply a ring of
Amdro crystals around the compost heap......

--
K.

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 You are correct about being wanting to be cautious with pesticides. I don't
want the ants but would like to keep the worms.

I did read something last night that said when this happens it is because
the N is too low, thus the pile not being hot enough.

 I am wondering if some blood meal might heat the pile up? Not sure what
effect it might have on the worms though, if any.



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 I had great success using grits. They are supposed to be liked
by the ants and the workers bring the grits to feed the queen.

I'm not sure what effect grits will have upon the nitrogen
content though. Fish emulsion and grits? Seaweed? I've heard
folks in Texas state that seaweed is the best thing around as
food for their jalapeno peppers.

--
Jim Carlock
Please post replies to newsgroup.

"Norma Briggs" wrote:
You are correct about being wanting to be cautious with pesticides. I don't
want the ants but would like to keep the worms.

I did read something last night that said when this happens it is because
the N is too low, thus the pile not being hot enough.

 I am wondering if some blood meal might heat the pile up? Not sure what
effect it might have on the worms though, if any.


"Katra" wrote:

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If you heat the pile up, the worms will simply leave. ;-)
My yard is _loaded_ with earthworms from front to back.

If you want to really heat up that pile, till in a bunch of dead leaves!
People are always leaving bags of raked leaves by the side of the road.
I've picked those up and left them in the bags too long and when I went
to dump them out, they were SMOKING! Ready to combust...

Till in a bunch of leaves, then cover them over with a sheet of black
plastic. You won't even need to wet the pile.  You can get it (the
plastic) in rolls at Wal-mart. That should drive the ants out if you can
get the whole pile hot. Maybe lower the pile level by spreading it a bit
when you till in the leaves.

Hope this helps???

DE would kill the worms as well as the ants. I'd not do that either then!

--
K.

Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

There is no need to change the world. All we have to do is toilet train the
world and we'll never have to change it again.  -- Swami Beyondanada


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