If you find ants in the compost bin it’s not a bad sign. Ants are very useful in the process of compost as they carry fungi along with numerous organisms to the pile making the compost extremely rich in potassium and phosphorus. But along with helping with composting, if a pile has too many ants it is not ideal especially if these ants protect the aphid population in the plants. Composting is breaking down and decompose of all organic materials only to receive nutrient-rich compost that is extremely beneficial for your vegetable and fruit patches along with your flowerbeds. When you look into a compost pile you will find numerous critters in them however you must be aware of what is good and what isn’t for your compost. If you just starting with composting then I’m sure you would have such queries, whatever the case with your compost pile, everything is repairable, all you need to do is follow a few steps to correct the compost pile and maintain a healthy balance within it in order to successfully compost.
- Always make sure that your pile is turned well with a pitchfork or a shovel once in a week, this helps to discourage colonies of ants. It also helps to bury all the new food. If your leftover food and scraps are exposed it will 100% attract ants. So, when you mix the pile frequently it prevents the ants from entering the pile.
- If you feel that your pile is dry add water to it. It should be damp, avoid adding excessive water to the pile. If the file is dry, it would encourage ants into the bin.
- Always make sure that the pile is absorbing sufficient moisture, as soon as you touch it if it sheds then you should mix the pile over and sprinkle some water into every layer. Avoid sprinkling water overhead.
- Please add green materials that include grass clippings to the compost as it is great to retain moisture. Wood chips too will dry the pile quickly.
- Make sure that plant debris and woody materials are clear of ants before you can mix them with a pile. You don’t want to add ants to your pile accidentally.
- Make sure you get yourself a good compost thermometer, in this way you will be able to monitor the temperature of the pile. It should never go below 130 degrees F.
- Take off the plastic cover the moment the temperate reaches 160 degrees allowing fresh air to circulate within the bin. This process is vital.
- Add brad ascetic nematodes to your compost in late spring. There are worms that attack ants. They are easily available in local garden shops. These microscopic worms discourage ants from building a nests in the compost. And you don’t have to worry because they are safe for plants, pets, and children.
Finally, I would recommend being careful if you’re planning to use and powders that are chemically treated, do read the instructions mentioned on the label before utilizing them for your composition. Certain pesticides when spread on files tend to be very harmful to certain plants as they tend to kill some beneficial insects. That’s all for now and I do hope that you found clarity with this article. Take care.