Hi, how do I get rid of slaters and keep them from getting into and breeding in my compost bin?

Hi Keryn, slaters are generally good guys in the garden and largely feed on rotting organic matter, however sometimes they have a taste for plants and strawberries. The best way to control them is to remove the habitat they like to hide in which is generally cool, moist and dark environments in the compost bin, under mulch, bark, straw, rocks and pots. If you remove where they are living they will start to disappear. Because they have made their home in the compost bin, turning the compost every two weeks may disturb them and move them on. There are products such as diatomaceous earth (which is natural) or soil insect killer (which is chemical) used to control slaters but try turning the compost more regularly and see if that makes a difference, it should reduce the slater population. Lianne