Composting Smells and Flies

[Sharmore]

Hi all,

Not sure i am posting in the right forum but i'm sure one of you will let me know if i am wrong

I started composting a few backs and have been religiously adding everything i possibly can. I noticed the flies getting worse each week but thought nothing of it as i figured this was part of the composting process.

Today i went to add more stuff but can barely get near it for little brown/orange looking flies. I'm not squeamish but trying to open the lid with them flying out at me if certainly off putting. They are all over the outside too.

Is this normal? Is there anything i can add to help with the smell and deter the little bllighters?

Any replies will be much appreciated

Thanks

ShazM

[Cheryl]

Hi Shaz

What are you putting into your compost bin? Are you adding a variety of "stuff"? Don't use too much grass cuttings, or if you do make sure you mix it with more woody stuff or kitchen waste.

Flies and midges are normally attracted to rotting fruit and vegetables; you can deal with them by adding a layer of soil - or what I normally do is add the contents of my shredder that way the flies can't get straight to the rotting stuff.

As for the smell, are you aerateing your bin? You can get a tool for this but I just use a big stick

Good luck and stick with it

[nightshade]

It really is worthwhile to compost,stick to the rules, i.e. no cooked foods
and keep it covered and you should be fine

[djackso]

They may be fruit flies - they do swarm and appear menacing in high numbers - but they are harmless, if it's them.

[dragonfly]

hya keep well coverd we use old carpets or if container keeplid on if it smell its to freshto use it must not smell at all to use what use compost now you can use in about sixmonths

[m1.carson]

Hi,

We kept a "for composting box" outside our kitchen door, fruit and veg went in it, yep, hundreds of little black flies, probably fruit flies, we've moved it..

Max.

[Sharmore]

Thanks very much for your replies guys - very helpful indeed.

I think these must be fruit flies right enough - i had no idea we even got fruit flies int he uk, so i have learned something new today.

I must have the wrong mix and need some more brown material in the bin i will get on this today as i have lots and lots of junk mail that needs shredded.

As for airing i haven't done this as yet - the main reason the flies so will do this at some point today or this week.

Need to go and buy a bag of soil so i can stick a layer over too.

Thank you again for your replies it has made me realise i must be doing something wrong.


ShazM

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Sharmore

Thanks very much for your replies guys - very helpful indeed.

I think these must be fruit flies right enough - i had no idea we even got fruit flies int he uk, so i have learned something new today.

I must have the wrong mix and need some more brown material in the bin i will get on this today as i have lots and lots of junk mail that needs shredded.

As for airing i haven't done this as yet - the main reason the flies so will do this at some point today or this week.

Need to go and buy a bag of soil so i can stick a layer over too.

Thank you again for your replies it has made me realise i must be doing something wrong.


ShazM

Don't forget you also need to water it.

[Susie]

I had this problem last year. I used a spare wheelie-bin for compost and did put a lot of fruit and peelings in it and not much dry stuff. As a result every time I opened the lid there were a horrible cloud of flies. When I finally got around to emptying the bin last winter the compost was foul. A disgusting smelly wet slop.

This year I have a "proper" compost bin which is open at the bottom to allow for drainage (but it is standing on concrete to stop mice from getting in) and I am putting in more torn paper, cardboard and shrubby clippings from the garden. I am pleased to say that I have already had some compost from it and it is lovely stuff - and no horrible cloud of flies.

Good luck with your compost. It is a great feeling when it works out properly.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Sharmore

Hi all,

Not sure i am posting in the right forum but i'm sure one of you will let me know if i am wrong

I started composting a few backs and have been religiously adding everything i possibly can. I noticed the flies getting worse each week but thought nothing of it as i figured this was part of the composting process.

Today i went to add more stuff but can barely get near it for little brown/orange looking flies. I'm not squeamish but trying to open the lid with them flying out at me if certainly off putting. They are all over the outside too.

Is this normal? Is there anything i can add to help with the smell and deter the little bllighters?

Any replies will be much appreciated

Thanks

ShazM

ShazM this is a typical problem with closed bin systems. There is nothing unnatural going on and in some resects the nutrient value of the final product of these 'wet' systems are higher. However as you've found it is pretty unpalatable.

The 'brown flies' are fuit flies and their larvae are a useful part of the decomposition process however by manging your system differently you shoud be able to reduce their numbers. As a 'quick fix' to your current problem add garden lime at a rateof two or three hand fulls once per week for a month or two which will change the chemistry and reduce the smells. For longer term management please see: Composting 101

CM