Whether you are a beginner gardener, or you already have a thriving garden in your yard, you may want to create compost. Certain kinds of compost can attract unwanted residents such as mice, rats, and other rodents to your home composting systems. If you already get rats at your home, you may want to consider making your composting processes rat-proof.
What is Compost?
Composting is a natural process that recycles organic matter such as food waste, yard waste, or kitchen waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Compost is commonly used in gardens to provide nutrients to plants and to help them thrive and grow. Compost can be made from any green or brown materials found in your yard or kitchen. Common composting material is food scraps, leaves, coffee grounds, leftover birdseed from bird feeders, woodchips, grass clippings, and eggshells.
Does Compost Attract Rats?
Rats can be attracted to compost bins because they not only provide an easy access food source, but they also provide shelter. Because compost bins often contain kitchen scraps like vegetable and fruit peelings, they are prone to attracting unwanted critters looking for an easy food supply.
You can deter these critters from getting into your bins by getting a tight-fitting lid to protect your compost from unwanted pests. Putting a lid on your compost bins can stop rats from entering in the first place. Make sure your lid still allows for proper airflow to reach your compost.
Are Rats Attracted to Compost Piles?
Rats are also often attracted to compost heaps in your yard because they provide shelter from the weather and can provide rodents with a safe space. You can stop rats from entering your compost piles by putting up some wire mesh, such as chicken wire, around your piles. That way you can keep making compost without worrying about attracting unexpected guests.
You can also make your home compost rat-proof by placing traps around your compost. Live traps can help protect your garden waste from rat infestations. Take the proper steps to stop the problem before it starts. If you use rat poison, make sure to follow all of the instructions listed on the product, and always wear gloves when putting these types of traps out.
What is Vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting doesn’t actually have to do with vermin like rats and mice. Instead, it’s a composting process that recycles the byproduct of earthworm digestion into usable fertilizer for your garden. While not always as attractive to rats, vermicomposting bins often attract slugs, and they may require an insect repellant.
Ready to Build a Garden?
Mike’s Evergreen can help you design your perfect garden. We’re expert landscapers, and can help you create a bountiful garden that you can use to create compost from your garden compost. Contact us to get a quote.
