I have two big compost bins I have never had any problems with pests but there have been bees of some sort nesting in the dorment heap. It generally "cooks" very well apart from this year when the grass all dried up. If there is enough grass it does reach a really good heat where the fermenting grasses etc actually smells quite sweet.
I wonder how many roaches there are in the UK? I found one running across our kitchen top once. And I spent the morning furiously cleaning and looking everywhere until the blighter was caught. On that occasion I think it likely were a stowaway after a foreign trip. I think they need a warmer climate in general but many exist in New York living in flats and basements where it's warm enough. We could so easily get them here, and although I have respect for these critters, like rats and other pests, I don't fancy them in the house.
In one flat my socks were going missing and it turned out a rat was stealing them. A family had access to our flat through the underfloor and cavity and piping holes. So my advice is to always seal the house appropriately! Mice can slip through the smallest of cracks so are harder to keep away.
We have had rats in the compost bin, and they repeatedly tunnelled in. In the end a tough gauged mesh underneath was employed, and seemed to put them off. At the end of the garden it's not so much an issue. I find neighbours that feed their birds and those with chickens are happily feeding the rats - which are more of a problem than the heap.
I love composting kitchen waste, and getting it out the house. Our bin never stinks. Unlike the binners down terrace that lob in cat and dog faeces that cooks and festers in the sun. And prevents you from opening your windows.
If your bin is secure from critters you can pretty much put anything that once lived in it.
Garden composting attracts interesting wildlife. Slow-worms and other reptiles. I have had bees nesting, that can be more of an inconvenience than anything else.
The badgers have pulled the door off the dalek in the past. So I now surround the bin with mesh.
I'd advice putting it far away if it is used for kitchen waste, as it will smell a bit. And if trips are an inconvenience, have a secure bucket you can decant to in dribs and drabs and then add that once a week to your main bin.
I compost all my raw kitchen scraps, fruit cores, t-bags, egg-shells, torn up newspapers etc. Mine has never had a bad smell but there is always a swarm of small fruit flies every time I open the lid to put stuff into it.
I compost all my raw kitchen scraps, fruit cores, t-bags, egg-shells, torn up newspapers etc. Mine has never had a bad smell but there is always a swarm of small fruit flies every time I open the lid to put stuff into it.
Mine too. The more the better, their larvae help break everything down. Before the adults leave, they will have laid eggs to carry on the business. They produce a new generation every two weeks!
Trouble is, you can’t tell someone where to put their compost bin/chair! It shouldn’t smell at all, We’ve got several bins and never a smell, only a nice one.
If the smell is really unbearable you must get onto the council and report it as a health hazard. Maybe they are putting cooked or raw meat on there, in which case you must inform the council as you will have rats in no time.
I do sympathise with people who have obstinate neighbours.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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If there is enough grass it does reach a really good heat where the fermenting grasses etc actually smells quite sweet.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
In one flat my socks were going missing and it turned out a rat was stealing them. A family had access to our flat through the underfloor and cavity and piping holes. So my advice is to always seal the house appropriately! Mice can slip through the smallest of cracks so are harder to keep away.
We have had rats in the compost bin, and they repeatedly tunnelled in. In the end a tough gauged mesh underneath was employed, and seemed to put them off. At the end of the garden it's not so much an issue. I find neighbours that feed their birds and those with chickens are happily feeding the rats - which are more of a problem than the heap.
I love composting kitchen waste, and getting it out the house. Our bin never stinks. Unlike the binners down terrace that lob in cat and dog faeces that cooks and festers in the sun. And prevents you from opening your windows.
If your bin is secure from critters you can pretty much put anything that once lived in it.
Garden composting attracts interesting wildlife. Slow-worms and other reptiles. I have had bees nesting, that can be more of an inconvenience than anything else.
The badgers have pulled the door off the dalek in the past. So I now surround the bin with mesh.
I'd advice putting it far away if it is used for kitchen waste, as it will smell a bit. And if trips are an inconvenience, have a secure bucket you can decant to in dribs and drabs and then add that once a week to your main bin.
Stick them as far away from the house of possible and relax !!
It shouldn’t smell at all, We’ve got several bins and never a smell, only a nice one.
If the smell is really unbearable you must get onto the council and report it as a health hazard.
Maybe they are putting cooked or raw meat on there, in which case you must inform the council as you will have rats in no time.
I do sympathise with people who have obstinate neighbours.