escaping worms!

[Broadbeanster]

Can anyone provide me with some help on my compost bin... I have been composting my waste at home for about two years... adding kitchen waste and garden waste as and when the bag is full in the kitchen. I've noticed that over the past few months that each time I lift the lid off the compost bin the lid itself contains possibly 100 worms all seemingly trying to escape my compost. Can anyone tell me why and what I might be doing wrong?

[fluffymuppet]

Hello!

It's not clear whether you're talking about a proper worm composter or just a garden compost bin.

If it's a worm composter then it's possible your pH level is wrong or that the environment is too wet. Try adding draining the liquid, adding some lime and some scrunched up paper and leaving the whole lot to settle for a week or so before adding more waste.

HTH
Muppet

[Broadbeanster]

Sorry - its just an ordinary garden composter.

[supersprout]

Then you're doing brilliantly. One of the best things you can do is increase the worm population on the plot - busy soil is happy soil!

[madderbat]

Can you send some our way please? alternatively you could sell them as fishing bait???!
seriously, be grateful and spread them around your plot.

[Digger-07]

Try mixing a handfull of crushed limestone to the top layer of your bin. If the compost too acid the worms will try to leave. It may also be that they have nothing to work on at the moment and need some more green stuff.

Good luck with it.

[rhubarbontoast]

I wish I had worms.

[vicki lorraine]

was the worm invasion after the rain? If your bin is getting waterlogged then the worms will travel to the top of the bin.
At this time of year when there is less to add to the compost bin try to add shredded paper and card as well as any prunings from the ornamental flower beds.
good luck with the compost should be good stuff.

[Peter]

Lid on = dark.
Worms come up to the top to feed.
If you leave the lid off for a bit do they "dig in" and vanish?

[bloomingbethan]

i have a compost bin full of garden waste and kitchen waste and when i take of the lid there is loads of flies is this right

[madderbat]

i have a compost bin full of garden waste and kitchen waste and when i take of the lid there is loads of flies is this right

Me too, but as far as I'm concerned flies = worm food. Keep the lid on as much as possible, they die quicker!!! We were innundated last Summer with flies in the heat, but it's not so bad now.