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Gardening

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)

7. Not so much with ants. That's more for slugs.

Reply to mopinko (Reply #6)

Sun Dec 25, 2011, 04:05 PM

Dec 2011

It's just a highly abrasive sand-like substance that rips them open. Slugs die. Ants will just go around it or over it. Same with roaches. Boric acid is taken back to the nest and causes them to explode from the inside (gross, I know, but true). It kills the entire nest, including the queen. DE is a mixed bag. It will take care of nasty things but will also kill earth worms. I won't use it.

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Everything I've read about worm composting says that the worms don't like it under 40 degrees [View all] XemaSab Dec 2011 OP

The compost should be generating heat. Downwinder Dec 2011 #1

The worms that are in the ground, (night crawler types) usually go deeper as temps drop... dmosh42 Dec 2011 #2

They can dig down 2' or more to avoid the cold. Worm composting works best in the house, like under HopeHoops Dec 2011 #3

bout to put mine back outside, tho. mopinko Dec 2011 #4

DO NOT put the worms outside!!!! Solutions below... HopeHoops Dec 2011 #5

i have a sheltered spot. and ants- diatomescious (sp?) earth mopinko Dec 2011 #6

Not so much with ants. That's more for slugs. HopeHoops Dec 2011 #7

i wiped out my aphid problems on my fruit trees with the stuff. mopinko Dec 2011 #8

Plant pennyroyal around the base of the tree. Ants hate the shit. HopeHoops Dec 2011 #9

I keep mine in the laundry room. wildeyed Dec 2011 #10