Ants in my compost

Yikes! How do I deal with ants in my compost. I just started composting last year and didn't notice any ants. I use big stock feeders, eight feet across and two feet high. I put drain holes in the bottom, and I expect that's how they got in. My grandsons are turning it from one tub to the other today. We put the empty tub up on cinder blocks. What else should I do?

My compost was inundated with carpenter ants. The only thing that has worked well for me was to periodically sprinkle a heavy layer of horticultural diatomacious earth in the bin. It is ineffective if it get wet so wait for dry weather or cover the bins.

Thanks, Ardesia.

I have found that ants take up residence in dryer soil/compost. If the medium is consistently moist enough and not to their liking, they'll most like not set up shop in it...ants can't swim, and they know it...



This message was edited Aug 22, 2013 9:52 AM