Any composting experts around?

Genevieve M. · #1 02/15/08, 12:33 PM

I have a pile consisting of mainly pine shavings, chicken manure and a few kitchen scraps. It has been undisturbed since June. Today, I went out to turn it, and found the center well-composted.

There were a few giant earthworms, a few silver striped grubs and millions of ants living in it.

I turned it, and sprinkled Datamations earth over the top. Is there anything else I can do?

greenmulberry · #2 02/15/08, 01:03 PM

Sounds good. Try to keep it just lightly moist. Turn it occasionally, every other week or so is fine, to get it to all break down. As they say. . ."compost happens" :baby04: It'll break down faster or slower depending on how much you want to fool with the ratios of ingredients and turning it.

Were you trying to kill the ants with the DE? I know you guys have scary ants in TX. I personally have never needed to use DE on my piles.

Windy in Kansas · #3 02/15/08, 01:10 PM

Are you sure that those were ants in the pile?

Since it was pine shavings I would be a little afraid that they might be termits or carpenter ants and woud spread to buildings.

The edges of the pile might be drier so not as much composting taking place there. A good reason to turn a pile to mix a little more often. I'm also a firm believer that many piles are too dry to compost as quickly as the could, not necessarily as they should.

Bret · #4 02/15/08, 01:35 PM

Sounds like you are doing OK. You could toss in a couple of shovels full of local soil. It's a good starter.

I once knew 98 percent of the complete Rodales book on Composting. That was a dozen years ago. I think most of what I learned has now leached from my memory back into the earth.

Tricky Grama · #5 02/15/08, 02:00 PM

Never put DE in mine-guess I'd be afraid to kill the good bugs...
Other than that, sounds like you got a good pile goin'. I forget to keep mine moist, & prolly don't turn it as often as I should. Once a week is plenty.

Patty

Charleen · #6 02/15/08, 03:12 PM

We've got a couple compost piles going at the same time. We add to them during the winter, but don't turn them.

Why the DE?

One of the best 'green' materials to use to heat up the pile is fresh grass clippings. Pesticide free, of course.

Genevieve M. · #7 02/15/08, 07:03 PM

I put the DE on it because of the ants. I don't really know if it will kill them.

Alice In TX/MO · #8 02/15/08, 07:07 PM

If it's fire ants, put Amdro around the perimeter of the pile.

gilberte · #9 02/16/08, 05:40 AM

Are those "ants" white in color? If they are they're good for your compost pile and are a sign all is well with it and I wouldn't kill em'.

Shinsan · #10 02/16/08, 06:22 AM

Down here the white ants are termites! If your compost heap has the right level of moisture, it really shouldn't have ants in it. I'd be inclined to add some green waste and kitchen scraps to the pile, and turn it once or twice a week for a couple of months. That would allow air into it and accelerate the composting process.

BlueHeronFarm · #11 02/16/08, 06:59 AM

We get ants in our compost pile, too. I generally don't mind, but wear boots if I'm standing in it to turn it.

Fire ants don't like to be disturbed, so if you turn it semi-regularly, as mentioned above, they will eventually leave.

Genevieve M. · #12 02/16/08, 07:46 AM

They are not white. I don't know if they are fire ants, but the bites sure burned like fire. I will try keeping it turned.

Alice In TX/MO · #13 02/16/08, 08:07 AM

When you are bitten by a fire ant, you get a little blister the next day.

Get Amdro at the feed store. It keeps them from reproducing.

Fire ant info:
http://fireant.tamu.edu/management/howcanitell.cfm

Pony · #14 02/16/08, 08:14 AM

Sounds like you have a great pile going!

(BTW, lots of good compost threads in Gardening and Plant Propagation.)

We have at least 3 piles going at any given time, in addition to a long row of leaves breaking down. (Oh, leaf mold! Heaven!

)

I wonder if the DE would be harmful to your worm population. Anyone else have an idea on that?

I was going to recommend that, if you didn't like your compost, I'd take it off your hands

, but fire ants? <shudder> The one thing that makes me okay with Winter in the Midwest is the fact that sub-freezing temps keeps the bugs relatively small. I anticipate a good "low-bug" year after the cold and snow we've endured.

Happy composting!

Pony!