[USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

[Craig Coker]

Hello colleagues:

 

A client of mine is considering use of a yard waste compost as an erosion
control blanket on the closed-out portions of a MSW landfill.  They have a
fire ant infestation problem at the site and in this community and I've been
asked if the compost blanket would encourage spread of the fire ant
invasion.

 

A quick lit search on the 'Net suggests that compost tea is useful in fire
ant control (Texas Coop Extension) and that microbes and fungi in the
compost are predatory to fire ants (a commercial gardening web site).

 

Does anyone have any real experience with the impact of 2"-4" compost
blankets on fire ants? Will it cause the infestation to spread?  Or are
these info sources correct, that perhaps the leaching of compost nutrients
and microbes/fungi into the soil beneath the blanket will be inhibitory to
fire ants?

 

Many thanks,

Craig

 

Craig Coker

Coker Composting & Consulting

3331 Glade Creek Blvd.

Ste. 7

Roanoke, VA  24012

(540) 904-2698

Fax: (540) 904-6732

Cell: (540) 874-5168

craigcoker at cox.net

www.cokercompost.com