Saturday 31 May 2014

Help! There are lots of flies in the compost heap!

Apparently that means that the mixture is too wet.  The best things to add are shredded newspaper, straw or woody cuttings.  Cardboard egg boxes are super as they have ready-made air gaps in them.


This answer from expert Monty Don is pretty comprehensive:


"We had good results with our compost until two years ago. The bin was placed on concrete, and waste was turned regularly and urine or water added. But then the compost became infected with thousands of whitefly, so we decided not to use it and started a new bin placed directly onto soil. This is now covered with disgusting brown flies that attack us each time we lift the lid. Help!"
 
This question really merits a long answer, but the important thing is: do not stop making compost. Very briefly, a compost heap is a living thing with millions of creatures - mainly bacteria and fungae, but also flies, beetles, slugs and every kind of creepy-crawly - helping to digest and process your waste into wonderful, enriching compost. Let them do it! 
There is no need to add water or urine, but it is important to turn it approximately once a month, unless you have lots of space to leave a heap to slowly mature over a year or two. 
Turning will feed the bacteria especially, which will speed up the composting process so the waste will soon become clean, fresh-smelling and free of flies of all kinds. So please, don't give up. Every heap gets flies, but they will soon go if you turn the heap often. 


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-1077154/Ask-Monty-Help-My-composts-infected-flies.html#ixzz33IZXLYmw
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Also on the internet there was one suggestion of leaving the lid of the compost bin off in the winter, then the larva and overwintering adults will freeze and be no more.

If, on the other hand, the compost bin's too dry - one indication is ants in the compost bin - then add more green matter, grass clippings, weeds - or even water the bin.  Other ideas include adding bonemeal or manure.

See also: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/7-solutions-common-compost-problems

​Some advice from the RHS on composting:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?pid=444

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