Compost bin doesn't need ants

By Audrey Post
MS. GROW-IT-ALL

Q: I have a pile of ants in my compost bins and fear that they might kill the earthworms in the bins. How do I get rid of them, and not harm the worms?

A: It sounds like the compost pile isn’t getting very hot if you have ants and earthworms in it, so check the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (brown leaves to green grass, for instance) to ensure it’s about half and half. Also, make sure the pile is moist. When the pile starts cooking at a higher temperature, both the ants and the earthworms probably will depart, but that won’t hurt the composting process because fungi and microorganisms are the main agents of decomposition.

I also consulted Walter Tschinkel, the Florida State University biology professor who is a renowned ant expert, who had a couple of additional suggestions:

“Getting the ants to move out probably depends on why they are there. If they are nesting (do you see a lot of larvae and pupae?), then running a garden hose into the nest might make them move. It might take a couple of episodes. If the bin is movable, it could be moved into the shade, and this might make the ants move out. Drastic turning and churning of the compost might also get the ants to move. Any kind of disturbance that makes the pile unsuitable for a nest could work.

“If the ants are in the compost to feed, it might be more difficult to get them to leave, but the same method could still work.”

Daylilies for a good cause: J.B. “Barry” Mittan, whose October hurricane lily sales have benefited Red Cross disaster relief for the past few years, is selling daylily “bulbs” to benefit the Leon County Human Society.

His “Bags O’ Bulbs” – OK, technically they’re not bulbs but “Bag O’ Trimmed Clumps” just doesn’t have the same punch -- contain a dozen randomly mixed daylilies that are ready to plant and cost $10 each. Mittan is donating the bulbs and bags, so 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the LCHS Animal Medical Expense Fund.

Sonya White, LCHS executive director, expects the bulbs will be ready for pickup around July 25. E-mail her at swhite@LCHS.info to place your order.

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