| Author | Content |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
February 24, 2007
9:14 PM Post #3221817
| I have paid the professionals to come out and put out stuff to kill the ants (cost me $300)...this was 1 1/2 yrs. ago. Since then, I've treated the yard myself at least a dozen or more times. Now granted, when I bought this place...the ants had taken over. There were probably 50 some ant hills over an acre. I spotted six today and I am just so sad. I've gotten so excited about growing my new garden but shouldn't I be worried? I mean, I can't till up the garden space with an anthill on it...it will send them flying everywhere!
Someone please tell me the magic secret...please, please. I've also sprinkled baking soda on a hill, then poured white vinegar all over it and it worked but it also turned my grass yellow and now this year it is a bare spot.
Any clues, you guys?
Pinger |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
February 24, 2007
9:49 PM Post #3221966
| I was gonna say coffee but my dad says that he doesn't think that was killing them, just running them off to another spot. We have them real bad here too but can't kill them. If you want to keep them out of the house, sprinkle the grounds against the foundation. They won't go past them. |
LAINIMOO
Bloomingdale, IL
(Zone 5a)
February 25, 2007
6:26 PM Post #3224716
| Pinger...darn ants...I had terrible flying ants a couple of years back. Sounds like a lot of work, but try scalding hot water. You didn't mention what kind of ants. If they are the big black ants, check for any kind of rotting wood. They sell ant bait on the internet - I believe it's called Ant Gourmet. If you don't get the queen, the ants will just keep moving around. The Ant gourmet food is there for the soldiers to take back to the nests and hopefully kill the queen. The queen is a big ant. Ants also are attracted to water. Do you have ground pests digging up your land to eat the ants? Good luck! |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
February 25, 2007
9:03 PM Post #3225176
| LAINIMOO...the ants are very tiny...might be fire ants. Not in my yard, but in a neighbors...I saw one mound that had to be near 2 feet high!
No rotting wood and no ground pests and no "excess" water...hmmm.
I do understand the concept though of the worker ants taking the "kill" back to the nasty Queen...I just don't know what to do. What if they start popping in my garden?
|
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
February 25, 2007
9:18 PM Post #3225230
| We have been trying for YEARS to kill them here with no sucess. We have more luck with moles than ants and moles are hard to catch! |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
February 25, 2007
9:49 PM Post #3225321
| i once tried the coffee grounds... didnt work.
Though i have use dish soap and water... that will kill just about any insect. |
Daisies4Me
Alexander, AR
February 27, 2007
10:32 AM Post #3230001
| I have ants also at my place. I mix half and half water and bleach. Just don't do this near your flowers or plants. It does kill some of the ants. I've gotten stung SO many times that I finally listened to an :old wise person: what to do for my stings. Now, DON'T laugh because it does help very much...if you get stung rub Prep H on the bite, it makes that awful swellign and itching calm down and speeds the healing. I know your thinking..omg hemmoroid ointment! I did too..until I tried it. Trust me on this one. Also on the ant hills..If you have left over rice or peelings from peeling potatoes...put them on the hills..ants can't digest starch. Good luck from Arkansas! |
sallyg
Anne Arundel Co., MD
(Zone 7a)
February 27, 2007
11:53 AM Post #3230232
| My sister in florida chases them around her yard. When they pop up she puts Amdro on the hill and that goes away. I think you could live with them with minimal loss to your garden, but not eliminat them completely. |
Bubba_MoCity
Missouri City, TX
February 27, 2007
12:15 PM Post #3230286
| I have found that improving the soil in the garden discourages the fire-ants. It does not completely eliminate them, however, so they camp just outside the garden area - ARRGGHHH! (to copy a line from Charlie Brown).
Usually, by the time I see one or feel it crawling on me, it is too late. I'm not sure anything will ever eradicate them. We just seem to move them around. If I get them out of the yard, they are in the neighboors yard or on the county land behind our property. So it is a perpetual struggle. |
momo125
Windsor, ON
(Zone 6a)
March 2, 2007
10:52 AM Post #3240891
| Try Jerry baker recipes if you don't like chemcals. One of his secrets is to soak cigarettes in water to make nicotine soup. Nicotine has a LD50 of 1. If this means nothing to you I will explain. LD is lethal dosage. It is the number of milligrams per kilogram of body weight it takes to kill a test rabbit. (not my idea, so don't blame me for bunnyside) Anyways, The LD50 of insecticidal soap for example is 10,000. So nicotine...Very Toxic.
Check out this site. He also recommends grits, because they expand after eaten, and POOF, ant dust!
[HYPERLINK@www.jerrybaker.com] |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
March 3, 2007
9:16 AM Post #3243846
| WOW...thanks for all the advice...I'm trying a little of everything and will let you guys know which ones worked and which ones didn't.
So far, I've tried boiling water and the dish soap.
I'll check back in tomorrow.
Pinger |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
March 6, 2007
3:19 PM Post #3254325
| The grits definately do not work...
The boiling water kills on contact but not all of them...
Trying the nicotine, bleach and soapy water next...
Pinger |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
March 6, 2007
9:57 PM Post #3255888
| Keep on trying. I am waiting on it to warm up and seeing what works for you. The only thing I have really seen work is peonies next to the house. They are more interested in them than the house. But I still want to get rid of most of them. Have more of them than moles. |
momo125
Windsor, ON
(Zone 6a)
March 7, 2007
9:17 PM Post #3259305
| What ever you do, don't mix up the nicotea with your iced tea!!! LOL YUCK!!! |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
March 13, 2007
10:52 PM Post #3278976
| LOL...funny MOMO.
The nicotine tea did not work for me...oh well. I put some water/bleach on two hills and water/soap on two others. I will check back in, in a few days.
By the way, I have been pouring boiling water on the first attempts of the other remedies that did not work and I haven't seen any new ants. Don't know if it's the water or the combo...but thinking it's the boiling water.
Ping |
blpender
Dowagiac, MI
March 17, 2007
3:13 PM Post #3292565
| I KNOW, I KNOW. Now please don't laugh. This really works, is cheap, and is so non toxic, you can eat it.
Sprinkle NutraSweet around the ant hills, then lightly mist with water. It HAS to be NutraSweet, or a generic that has Aspartame as it's ingredient. It was originally manufactured as an insect poison.
blpender |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
March 17, 2007
3:16 PM Post #3292578
| >>It was originally manufactured as an insect poison.
wow, how scary is that!! that is is a sweetener for human consumption. |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
March 17, 2007
5:31 PM Post #3292907
| We will try that and let you know how it works. |
blpender
Dowagiac, MI
March 18, 2007
2:48 AM Post #3293651
| Yes, please do. I was skeptical when I first read it as well. I had some plants I wanted to put in, and ants had invaded that part of my bed. I sprinkled just 2 packets of the stuff around, misted it lightly. The next morning, there was NOT ONE SINGLE ANT.
My kennel is an attached to my house, used to be a garage. Sometimes in early spring, I get those tiny little black ants that come in from the tiny cracks where the floor meets the walls. Every time I see them, I use the nutra sweet treatment, right at the crack line, mist it with water, and voila, no more ants.
blpender |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
March 19, 2007
2:25 PM Post #3299076
| Excellent!
Can't wait to try it... |
CoryS
Clarksville, TN
March 20, 2007
10:03 AM Post #3301968
| When I was living in Alabama last year, I would treat the entire yard with Amdro. It's a little costly, but it should last all season. The fire ant there are HORRIBLE! I would put it down in April, and never saw another mound until about August, and even then it was only 1 or 2, it was then easy to sprinkle the amdro around the pile. Always did the trick for me. Good luck! |
dragonfly53
(Terri C) South Bost, VA
(Zone 7a)
March 20, 2007
3:03 PM Post #3302989
| Aspartame was NOT invented as an ANT Poison, that is an urban legend. The website snopes.com is the one to check to see if anything you are told that seems to be unbelievable is bogus. Here's a link for the aspartame/ant poison story:
[HYPERLINK@www.snopes.com] |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
March 23, 2007
7:28 PM Post #3314213
| Update...
Water and soap...no effect.
NutaSweet...no effect.
I'm going back to the boiling water.
Wouldn't it be great to come up with something that you could pour, like a liquid (that ants were attracted to) down in the holes and then so many minutes later, it would harden...and trap the ants within it?
Somebody that has time, work on it...and I get half the profits! |
mimitho
Sonoma County, CA
(Zone 8b)
March 24, 2007
3:49 PM Post #3316390
| I am also plagued with ants on my 5 acres. Argentine ants absolutely everywhere. Pull up a weed... ants. Dig a hole... ants. Water the hedge... ants. I only care about keeping them out of my house (hardest in winter when it's cold and summer when it's dry) and out of my veggie garden.
Last year, I bought one of these bait stations [HYPERLINK@www.kmantpro.com] and the raised bed it was in had no ants at all. I bought 4 more this year, to keep the ants out of the whole veggie path I hope. I'll give a report later in the year to let you know how they worked, because they weren't cheap. |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
March 24, 2007
5:04 PM Post #3316802
| Please do let us know how they work. |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 1, 2007
7:34 PM Post #3345591
| UNCLE!!!!
I give up... Some died, some moved...and more are popping up.
I'm going back to my original thought and experiment...baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda all over the mound, pour on the vinegar and watch it fizz (fun part) then add vinegar one or two more times. Kills the ants, not sure why...but also kills everything else too. I've got about 6 round bare spots where I did it last year.
Good luck to everyone else and pass on the trials and tribulations, please.
Pinger |
allmuxedup
Glendale, CA
(Zone 10b)
April 2, 2007
11:29 PM Post #3349824
| PLEASE... Don't try any of Jerry Baker's ... ANYTHING!!!!
He's the worst thing to happen to Organic Gardening since JI Rodale first brought it to this country! The nicotine mix w/ kill your beneficials! The grits is a myth. The guy's a quack & a rich one too!
[HYPERLINK@www.gardenrant.com]
" he's been universally condemned by plant scientists, who say his advice "ranges from the wacky to the downright dangerous." For example, the nicotine in chewing tobacco juice is a lethal pesticide, far more dangerous than what most of us buy in the stores. State and federal agricultural agents have objected to his use of the name "America's Master Gardener" - well, I should hope so."
My yard has been organic for over 45 yrs. My mother battled w/ ants non-organiclly & never won. I took the yard over 5 yrs ago & have nearly gotten them licked. My secret? Boric Acid. Mix it w/ sugar. If it's liquid & strong (50/50) the worker w/ eat it & it'll kill her. If it's weaker (still better if it's liquid, worker can carry more) worker w/ take it home to feed it to the Queen & babies. I bought tiny containers w/ snap on lids, then used a hot nail to put a hole in it. Fill it up w/ the syrup & set it in the yard. It's better to put it in the shade, that way it doesn't evaporate so quickly. I use the 50/50 mix close to the house & the weaker mix farther away. I also start watering at the house & work my way out. I figure that way I'm chasing them away from the house, not toward it's nice, dry interior.
This yard has had big ant problems for 50 yrs, because they were never handled properly. In just 5 yrs, I've nearly gotten the eradicted. My neighbors still have them big time, because they still use chems & their soil is dead. Because of that, I'll be fighting them 'forever'. But... I can keep them at bey & keep their numbers down. |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 3, 2007
6:11 AM Post #3350447
| allmuxedup...
I've been hearing the same thing from quite a few others about Mr. Baker. Thanks for your input.
Where can I buy Boric Acid? I'm willing to do anything to get rid of these ants and I don't care how long it takes. It's become personal now...me or the ants!
I found three new mounds this morning, all within a foot of my lasagna bed...ARRGGGHHHHH!!!
Thanks allmuxedup,
Pinger |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
April 3, 2007
6:28 AM Post #3350492
| Pinger~ do you have a young son or a boy pumpkin nearby? When we visited my folks, my boy pumpkin took a shovefull of ants from one ant hill and dumped them on another ant hill, then watched them fight to the death. And repeated the process for their ant hills in the backyard . GOT RID of all the ants. He said it was on Animal Planet. Sooooo..we tried it here, the boy pumpkin was eliminating ant hills for a neighbor as well. ..No ant hills last year, and it may be a bit too early for this year, but of course of we see any ..will send the Boy Pumpkin Ant Eliminator out! |
1gardengram
Fayetteville, NC
(Zone 8a)
 April 3, 2007
11:13 AM Post #3351370
| Boric acid can be found at any drugstore.
Good idea for the "ant wars". |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 3, 2007
8:24 PM Post #3353110
| No children garden...just me.
And what the heck is a boy pumpkin? Is a girl pumpkin any different?
Sounds like interesting approach with the ants and actually makes since. But I think I'll try the Boric Acid first...
PS Do you have any seeds of this 'boy pumpkin'? |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
April 4, 2007
5:31 AM Post #3353885
| Pinger~LOL! NO pumpkins (children) are all adorable and lovable and each have their own personalities, talents and weaknesses. Just that my boy pumpkin will cross into territories and engage in activities that my girly pumpkins would screamand run away at the thought ... Just the other day, he helped create a contraption out of insect screen weighted down by a huge rock to prevent the black snake from reentering his/her hole near our patio,..another scene from Animal Planet or Discovery channel I'm sure. Even some of his friends stand back, just to observe. Sorry, don't have any seeds for this boy pumpkin..but I've been known to lend him out, for a burger and shakes, to neighbors and friends! |
lisaoliver
Foristell, MO
(Zone 5b)
April 5, 2007
2:35 AM Post #3357304
| Just my two cents-- Boric acid does work. For indoors we have a product called terro, boric acid and other stuff in a sticky liquid. Small bottle about $3 at walmart in the pesticide section. In the house you put it on cardboard, although I put it on a can lid or something it won't leak through and set it on the counter- do not disturb the ants, they will drink it up and take it home to feed their queen so let them.After a few days, no ants. Be careful if you have pets, put it out of their range. |
Machikoneko
Hometown, IL
(Zone 5a)
April 5, 2007
3:10 AM Post #3357336
| I second lisaoliver's remedy. I have cats, so I have to be careful where I put it.
The product I'm using is called "Roach Prufe." I got it from Ace hardware.
I really think ants are cool, but not in my house! (They can enjoy my Peonies all they like.)
Marsha.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
allmuxedup
Glendale, CA
(Zone 10b)
April 5, 2007
2:10 PM Post #3359343
| Roach Prufe is mostly Boric Acid. You don't need the pharm grade, it's what I used to get before I found Roach Prufe. Tehre are other BA based insect remidies, look in the chem isle of the store, if you can stand the smell.
Try ot keep it in a paste/liquid form. That's what they eat. If it gets too hard, they won't touch it. You can also get it in the squirt bottle (looks like a really big ketchup bottle.) you 'squirt' it out & it kinda comes out in a cloud. you don't need much, just a dusting in their path. Like w/ roaches, it'll get on them & get in their joints. Or they'll clean themselves & it'll take out their stomach.
There's no need to spend all that $$ on chems & cause your children to get sick. You can stay w/ Organics & everybody can be happy & healthy. I'd go to the OG fourm on this site, there's a lot I could contribute. But... I'm not going to pay for accesss. I can go hang out on any number of Organic boards for free. Pay a subscription fee to help other subscribers... doesn't make sense to me. But if you have a problem & would like some help, I'm on the OrganicGardening dot com boards. |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 5, 2007
9:12 PM Post #3360647
| Hey allmuxedup...I got some Boric Acid today...but I have the powered kind.
What do I do or add? And this is strictly for outside use.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions everyone! And keeping fingers crossed this works :)
Pinger |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 7, 2007
3:04 PM Post #3366519
| Does anyone know what I should do or add to my powdered Boric Acid? Or should I just sprinkle it on the ant mounds? |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 9, 2007
8:57 AM Post #3371728
| Anyone? You guys out there?
Do I just sprinkle it on the mounds? Mix with water first? Add sugar? Dance on one foot, holding my nose while chanting, "Dead ant, Dead ant, Dead ant"?
Your help would be greatly appreciated!
And no...pictures will not be taken of Ant Dance, so don't even ask... |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
April 9, 2007
9:01 AM Post #3371748
| Heehehee! The video of the ANT Dance would be entertaining though! |
lisaoliver
Foristell, MO
(Zone 5b)
April 11, 2007
2:27 AM Post #3378154
| Sorry, haven't even checked my e-mail lately! yes, just sprinkle. Although I have found that saying things like" ha, ha you nasty little creatures, take this home to your queen!" makes me feel better. |
freetwofarm
North Tazewell, VA
April 11, 2007
4:09 AM Post #3378349
| Hi everyone. I was told years ago that Boric Acid in the powder form is an abrasive. It is supose to scratch the protective coating on the bug/ant and the bug/ant will dry out and die. Not sure about this but sounds good to me. I was told at the same time that crushed (powder) sea shells do the same thing if you lik the beach.
freetwofarm
Pinger. Do things grow fast in Mooresville? |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 11, 2007
7:22 AM Post #3379036
| Can you elaborate on "things", Free...?
My Crap Grass sure does... hee hee. (My own version of weedsn'grass)
And my seedlings sure did. I started my tomatoes,peppers, basil and marigolds on March 4. My marigolds sprouted on the 6th, basil on the 7th, all the diff. tomatoes on the 8th and all the peppers on the 10th. (This is my first time and I wasn't sure when to start) Since then, I have adjusted my germinating time quite a bit so as not to have to much ready to put out and then the weather not cooperating.
In fact, I haven't put anything in the garden yet...I've chuckled inside at the sight of all the buckets in the neighborhood...hee hee. I'm starting planting on the weekend of the 21st for everything. I have 6 tomato plants starting to bloom...in their 4" pots. I hope that's not a bad thing...
Did I answer your question? If not...ask away!
As for the Boric acid...here's what I did (I just couldn't wait for the replies...I just had to do something!) I got a 5 gallon bucket and put really, really hot water in it (about a 1/4 of the way), then added 4 cups of sugar (just thought this was the thing to do) and then I put a whole bottle of powered acid in it (12 oz.). Stirred it up and started pouring on the mounds. They freaked out! I don't know the outcome yet...I did this right before dark last night and now it's raining...yeah!!!!!
So we'll see tomorrow...and the next day...and the day after that...
And I have a back up 12oz. bottle just in case. If my method doesn't work, I'll just sprinkle! |
freetwofarm
North Tazewell, VA
April 11, 2007
7:39 AM Post #3379127
| Hi Pinger. I thought Mooresville was where a lot of the race car shops are at and things just happen faster there. Be sure to measure what you put in the ant killer. If it works you can get a patent. lol!
Free |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 11, 2007
5:34 PM Post #3381241
| You're right, Free...NASCAR heaven (to some). Even our police cars look like race cars...no kidding.
Interesting thought on "Pinger's Powered Punch:Kills Ants Dead" LOL |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
April 11, 2007
5:37 PM Post #3381256
| Pinger, please let us know how your exposive punch worked on the ants when ya get a chance. that sounds entertaining. LOL |
Gabrielle
Washington, IL
(Zone 5a)
April 14, 2007
2:07 PM Post #3391383
| I've heard that you can use Borax instead of boric acid and that it's cheaper. Anyone know if that is true? Also don't know if it's true, but Paul James says ants are a good thing for the garden, they aerate the soil, and that he doesn't allow them killed in his yard. Of course it wasn't fire ants, and I don't know if he would feel the same way if they took over. |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
April 14, 2007
2:10 PM Post #3391395
| If he saw my yard he would change his mind. Those ants have killed alot of plants that I had planted and they also invade the house in different spots. I have ants everywhere. And some of those hills are big enough that you can see them from the road. |
Gabrielle
Washington, IL
(Zone 5a)
April 14, 2007
2:22 PM Post #3391440
| I have to admit, I keep their colonies down here, too. Those little sweet ants take over the house (and potted plants) here, and in the last year I have been finding swarms of them outside. I watch for the swarms outside and spray them, but would like a safer way to do it. I have found that if you catch them very early in the season, it is easier to control them. Once summer comes, it seems they can hold their own!
This message was edited Apr 14, 2007 5:25 PM |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
April 14, 2007
2:23 PM Post #3391450
| Windex is what one of the gardeners use at work. I would find a hill and pour some in there. Try that in a spot and see what happens. |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 18, 2007
8:28 AM Post #3404856
| UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boric Acid does not work either! They just move over about a foot and start anew...
I am so bummed. I guess I'll just keep pouring the boiling water on...
Wish me luck,
Ping |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
April 18, 2007
9:22 AM Post #3405054
| Have you tried the ant attacks with the shovel? |
Len123
Adrian, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 22, 2007
12:01 PM Post #3418623
| well you probably are just exterminating everything that eats the little bugers.
if they ain't biting you or killing something I'd just let them be. I know they get on peonies but they don't harm them.
certainly the boric acid pesticides and borax would probably harm your garden more. Plant a daffodil bulb or something in their hole.
maybe throw a little birdseed out I know the birds come to the seed and then check the trees and ground for insects.
I think ants are always around, I think when it's dry they have to bury down in the ground deeper so they bring more soil to the top making them more noticeable.
that's just an off the top of my head guess though. good luck. |
Len123
Adrian, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 22, 2007
12:04 PM Post #3418632
| or maybe some non-organic over fertilization, it seems to kill the earthworms and then after their dead you can just flood the area with water to wash the salts away
and you'll be ready to plant your garden already fertilized. |
1gardengram
Fayetteville, NC
(Zone 8a)
April 22, 2007
5:37 PM Post #3419652
| I had been looking and looking for the ant killer I used last year. Didn't want to open my big mouth on here until I had the name. I bought it at Home Depot for about $1/4 traps. I had a huge invasion of ants in my indoor plants--very large pots, lots of ants. This stuff is in a small red box and is called MaxAttrax Ant Bait and is made by Hot Shot. They are just small black plastic traps that you stick where you need them. Every single ant I had was gone in 24 hours. The box says you can use them outside, but I have not personally done that yet. If the ants outside begin to cause a danger to children, I will use these traps on them. I like Paul James, but have not heard him say that about ants. I watch them outside and they are digging up the soil and that can't be all bad. I don't have fire ants, though. They are probably harder to get rid of, nasty things. I was bitten by several recently in Florida and I sure understand the name. The sores lasted for a week. |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 23, 2007
2:17 PM Post #3422707
| Len...I'm pretty sure that the ants on Peonys aren't fire ants. And I can't just 'let them be'...too many mounds and every time I mow, I'm sure they all don't come back and probably just start more. Plus I just don't want to have to watch where I walk every single time I go out in the yard...lol. And thank goodness, They are not in my garden either.
I posted an ad on Craig's List for free monkey grass...I was tired of the look and wanted something new. So I thought, why go to all that hard labor? Let someone else do it! WEll, this lady that came by said that she's used an killer called Spectracide and they used it last summer and haven't had any yet. I think I'm heading to Lowe's tomorrow...when I mowed the grass today, I found 13 new ones!!!!!!!! AARGH!!!!!!!!!!
Time for the heavy duty stuff...I'll let you now how it goes.
And Gram...I know what you mean by the fire ant bites...a couple of weeks ago, I got a total of 12 bites on my arms and legs and one got up to my neck! I felt like a walking radiator...and I still have scars where the bit me...darn things! |
1gardengram
Fayetteville, NC
(Zone 8a)
April 23, 2007
3:36 PM Post #3422977
| Oh, Pinger, I am so sorry they nailed you that bad. They got me four times in the soft skin (I may be old, but I still have a little soft skin left) between my thumb and forefinger. No matter what I did they just hurt.
I am glad you have something to try for your ant problem. I don't have many and they are not a hazard to anyone. Please be careful. They are going to be really mad at you!! |
Len123
Adrian, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 23, 2007
5:32 PM Post #3423419
| sorry I didn't know they were fire ants. |
Our_MS_Garden
Byhalia, MS
April 24, 2007
10:01 PM Post #3427978
| If not fire ants - just leave em alone. They are just insects the same as butterflies and such and will not hurt anything. Most people do not realize that ants can actually be pollinators as well. If they are fire ants - go to home depot or somewhere and ask for fire ant killer. Its a powder you put on the mound itself without disturbing it and it works well. Fire ants have multiple queens and if you disturb the mound they will become nomadic and soon you will have many small mounds. Good Luck. |
Len123
Adrian, MO
(Zone 6a)
April 25, 2007
12:44 PM Post #3430045
| how about fight fire with fire. get one of those propane blow torches that they are using to torch weeds with now. at least it sounds like fun |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 25, 2007
1:38 PM Post #3430257
| LOL Len...now there's a solid approach!
Ms Garden...these are definatley fire ants. If they were just normal ants, they wouldn't bother me one iota. But fire ants are a different story.
""go to home depot or somewhere and ask for fire ant killer. Its a powder you put on the mound itself without disturbing it and it works well.""
As I stated in my very first post...I've tried many times, with several different 'powders' and they did not work and even hired a professional to spread very potent ant killer over my entire yard. So as I am finding out...just as there are many different kinds of deodorant...I guess you just have to find the right "powder" that works for you. And I am happy to report, so far so good on the Spectracide! Let's keep our fingers crossed! |
Our_MS_Garden
Byhalia, MS
April 25, 2007
1:41 PM Post #3430277
| I use it all the time here in MS and it works great - I know there are a lot of different ones, I will try to look at that package in the garage so I can give you a name. Its a very fine white powder - you do not have to add water, just put it on the top of the mound and it kills the entire colony in a matter of a few days.
GOod luck. |
mjfulgham
Madison, MS
April 25, 2007
2:51 PM Post #3430501
| Pinger, this is the powder that I have used on fire ant beds here in MS and fire ants are really bad here. I just sprinkle it on a mound and by the next day they're gone! Many people around here have made comments on how it's the best thing out there. Even people when I'm purchasing it at the store!
I would also like a full broadcast product that would work on fire ants as good as this product does, so let me know on the broadcast Spectracide. But if I keep this product on mounds as they pop up in the beginning of the season I get great control. [HYPERLINK@www.ortho.com] |
Our_MS_Garden
Byhalia, MS
April 25, 2007
2:52 PM Post #3430507
| Thats the stuff - Ortho. It works very, very well. |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 26, 2007
7:00 PM Post #3435254
| I actually saw that brand right beside the Spectracide but since I had heard from that lady that got my monkey grass that it worked for her, I just got it. But it looks almost identical...same shape bottle and colors...http://www.spectracide.com/ProductCategories/OutdoorInsecticide/FireAntKillerReadyToUseDust/
I'll be posting by the weekend with an update to see if we have a winner!
Pinger |
mjfulgham
Madison, MS
April 27, 2007
4:03 AM Post #3436082
| Pinger, so you are using this on the mounds themselves like I use the Ortho?
Here's a link to epinions about the spectricide broadcoast product if you are interested - they have 8 different personal reviews on the product from users. [HYPERLINK@www.epinions.com]
This message was edited Apr 27, 2007 7:07 AM |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
April 29, 2007
6:58 AM Post #3443495
| Oh yeah...I was going over the yard every single day, treating any new mounds I see. However, I've been sick for the last four days and when I went to get the mail yesterday, I saw about 6 new ones. Today is the first day I've felt like attempting to lift my arms higher than brushing my teeth...so I'll put on my armor and venture back out. Hopefully, these suckers will be gone by weeks end.
I'll check back in with update!
Have a great week everyone! And remember:
Take time to "moil in the soil" but make time to "frolic in the fescue" :)
Pinger
|
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
May 16, 2007
4:01 PM Post #3504399
| Gimme a D!
Gimme a E!
Gimme a A!
Gimme a D!
Gimme a A!
Gimme a N!
Gimme a T!
Gimme a S!
Yes, folks...we have a winner! 14 days and no new ants. HaPpY DaNcE, HaPpY DaNcE (twirl, twirl, shake, shake, and just a little wiggle) Spectracide...Kills Ants DEAD.
Next venture: Grackles...now where did I put my pellet gun?...hmmmm |
WeeNel
Ayrshire Scotland
(United Kingdom)
May 16, 2007
6:31 PM Post #3504891
| Oh My GOD, you guy's have kept me entertained for the last half hour reading all your Walt Disney antict's, it is just like a comedy skript, I think I am a wee bit sad that these dumb ants are gone, what a let down, only kidding.
Can I add another bit of humour, a while ago our neighbour yelled at pitched tones, to come see what he had uncovered in his yard, thinking dead body or something, we ran over to his yard, husband trying to get his pants on, me trying not to notice but look cool and normal, anyway, the neighbour was re landscaping his yard, (as you do 8:30 on a Sunday morning) he had lifted a couple of pavers and low and behold, he had uncovered a huge ANT's NEST, they were currying everywhere, some carrying the grubs, some just running around or into each other and some going deeper down holes in the sand that the pavers had been set onto, I am talking thousands of ant's "what do I do the neighbour yelled" as his wife shut all the doors and windows, LIKE as if the ants really had no better things to do at this time but go right for her back door, we all gave sugestions, like, (dont know) oh my God, that is a work of art, or leave them alone and they will move away, anyway, neighbour said he had seen an old guy pour gasoline on the nest, set it alight, and they just fried in seconds( this guy was one of those know it all TAX INSPECTORS) so he just knew, WEEEEE, were all idiot's) so he would do what he saw with his own eye's, and set light to the nest,
we stood watching the ants (incase they escaped the death sentence) neighbour came back with his can of gasoline and poured it over the nest,AND down the holes in the sand, this sent the ants into a bigger rage and were even more determined that they must save the nest at all costs, Bet this works the neighbour smirked at us with glee in his voice, next we faffed around looking for a light, found the matchsticks and wooosh, his face was as black as the Earl of Hells waistcoat, his wife, looking from behind the drapes, assessed that it was safe to venture outside, eventualy managed to leave her compound, and give him a wet cloth for his face, but, with the strictest instructions that he was not to enter the house untill he got stripped off, as he took the cloth from his face, we decided it was time to leave, we could hardly walk for laughing, as it became evident that he had no eyebrows, a very curly fringe along his forehead that he did not have before, a bright red ear where his wife decided to add to his injuries by slapping him with the wet cloth, and WE, had the most entertaining day in a long time. NO, NO, NO, the ants were still scurrying about looking for a new home by lunch time as we timidly looked over the yard fence to enquire if he was OK, maybe I should TRICKLE the gasoline next time he said, we moved the following year before he was starting his next DIY job, which was to move the garden shed as he had a hedgehog under it, he would move that by rocking it onto wooden battons, still full to bursting with toys and garden tools etc, YEH RIGHT my husband said, you realise the shed is only a few feet away from the river bank, no trouble neighbour replied, I will just rock it away from the river.
NOW the ants we have here in Scotland, are tiny, the only time they fly is when they have to leave to start a new colony and select a new queen, but they do bring diseases to plants as they always hang around where greenfly or other sap eating insects are, they live of the honey dew that these sap suckers secreat, so we also try to get rid of them, I think it is called combat, a powder, you only need a small amount as we are talking ant size diet not lions, we lay it at the entrance to the nest, remember they have more than one entry/exit, and as you say, they take this into the nest and it kills them, the queen cant survive as she aint getting fed, hey presto, no more ANT'S, well, till another lot come along and dig for victory and it goes on again. if your neighbour has not got rid of her ants, then when the next lot fly to pastures new, it will be your garden again, so best time to kill them is as soon as you suspect a new nest is in the making, good luck and thank you all for such a fun evening.
WeeNel UK.
|
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
May 16, 2007
7:37 PM Post #3505085
| LOL. I love that story!! That is something I will have to tell my parents about. They will love that!! |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
May 17, 2007
2:09 AM Post #3506268
| Great story Wee! What an awesome visual...like a cartoon, when the dynamite explodes in the guys hand and then leaves him with like 4 hairs on his head...too funny! Thank for sharing!
And if you want another little chuckle...head over to the Beginer Gardener's Forum, March 31st, Aliens in my Soil...another long post but hilarious! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
May 17, 2007
7:00 AM Post #3506420
| I remember that one!! LOL |
grasshopdesign
May 17, 2007
10:44 PM Post #3509446
| Some species use decaying wood as their nesting area. If you live in a newer subdivision you just may have a pile of construction debris buried in your yard. But the piedmont area of north and south carolina is a serious ant breeding ground. Try looking into biological pest control. Such as other insects that will feed on the ants, but not disturb your yard. buglogical.com is a good place to start. |
GiddyMoon
Carmichael, CA
May 18, 2007
5:07 PM Post #3511925
| I use diatomaceous earth, DE for many bug problems and it works great. Nothing will work with one treatment and last forever. But this is cheap, safe and works well. Do a google search and you will see tons of info. You can find it perty cheap in hardware stores, ebay and online. |
flutterbyte
Lombard, IL
May 18, 2007
9:54 PM Post #3512707
| Coffee was mentioned as an ant killer... I recently stopped drinking the coffee at work because I thought there was something wrong with it. Every time I noticed it spilled on the floor there was a pile of dead ants in it. They just crawl into it even after it's dry, eat it , and die! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
May 18, 2007
10:02 PM Post #3512734
| Yes, coffee works and so does the grounds. If you want to put a barrier around the house use coffee grounds that have already been brewed. For individual ant hills just pain ole coffee will do the trick. It's not a permenent solution but it does work. |
flutterbyte
Lombard, IL
May 18, 2007
10:16 PM Post #3512799
| I guess I can stop going to Starbucks for lunch! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
May 19, 2007
3:16 PM Post #3514385
| lol |
soprok
Weirton, WV
(Zone 6a)
May 19, 2007
10:47 PM Post #3515642
| half borax and half sugar and they carry it back to their nest and it kills them inclucing the queen.
|
soc2woc
Dallas, TX
May 19, 2007
11:33 PM Post #3515798
| just put some cornmeal from your local grocer on the nest, always worked for me |
nativeviv
Lafayette, LA
(Zone 9a)
May 20, 2007
8:22 AM Post #3516248
| Have any of you guys checked out your AgCenter's website? I know here in La. (lsuagcenter.com) and in Tx, they are using a new product to sterilize the queen, actually she produces sterile eggs, so they are eradicated in 2 generations. It is very cost efficient, $10-20 per acre, it only affects the queen ant, no other insect, and it is a broadcast bait which is very easy to apply, and you only have to do it 2x the first year and once a year after that. It is best when a whole neighborhood is treated, but it works when the ants are foraging, spring and fall. We did it in the fall and noticed a significant decrease in ants, and we have just done it again for the spring application. We will not have to treat again until next spring. There is a list of different products, and some also contain an insecticide for an immediate relief. Most are very safe, recommended for use in parks and school yards. Go to the LSU website cited above and type in fireant remediation. A whole bunch of articles come up. |
mjfulgham
Madison, MS
May 20, 2007
9:59 AM Post #3516537
| I looked at the LSU site and found this chart - those of us that are fighting fire ants definately need the ones with the chemical #'s 4 or 11 in my opinion. My dad uses Over-N-Out and swears by it. Here's the link to the chart [HYPERLINK@www.bae.lsu.edu] |
Our_MS_Garden
Byhalia, MS
May 20, 2007
10:45 AM Post #3516614
| Only problem with that nativeiv is from what I can read - this may also affect native ant species and we shouldnt do that. Just need to get rid of these nasty stinging, biting, killing, prolific brazilian invaders. Here in MS we have lost most of our Quail population with fire ants being the main suspected culprit and most of our native ants that just cannot compete with these invaders. We definately do not need to do anything to further strain our already depleted native species. Ants are not the problem - Only the invader species of ant. If you do not like native insects then just do not garden outside. Get a terrarium and keep it safe in the living room. ;-) |
flutterbyte
Lombard, IL
May 20, 2007
8:35 PM Post #3518009
| I know this may be a little off topic, but there seem to be a lot of fire ant experts here so I'm in the right place. Growing up in the midwest, I never thought too much about fire ants until I sat on a nest. In shorts. I had ants in my pants...no joke. The result was the worst kind of inflammation imagineable!
My question: What soothes and heals this kind of ant bite?
It took an agonizing long time to heal. Benedrly. Caladryl...even tried Emu oil.
I can see some humor looking back, but for future refrence...since we are on the ant topic. |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
May 20, 2007
10:06 PM Post #3518362
| A thick paste of baking soda and ice water soothed the pumpkins last year. Also works great on mosquito bites and bee stings. |
ManicReality
Houston, TX
(Zone 10a)
May 21, 2007
10:22 PM Post #3521879
| A salt or sea salt compress works pretty well for taking the inflamation and poison out of the bites. We had fire ants in Huntsville and when the boys would get into them and get bit, i'd pour salt on a bandaid and make em spit on it-to make it moist so the salt would stick. Then flip if over real quick over the bite and tape it down. Your own sweat/saliva and other bodily fluids are sterile to your own body.
I have tried grits, it only makes them move a few feet away.
I use borax powder (sprinkled around the house) for roaches - in texas everyone has them
The best thing i've seen with ants is to wash them away with water... if you have a good mulch down, you can just hose them away, the whole mound will end up whereever the water washes them too, i flooded my whole yard on accident the other day and now have no ants :D |
Our_MS_Garden
Byhalia, MS
May 22, 2007
7:59 PM Post #3525035
| I guess my question is ... where in Illinois did you find fire ants? |
flutterbyte
Lombard, IL
May 22, 2007
10:11 PM Post #3525426
| Oh boy, it was the 4th of July. They came out of a large crack in my cement patio. I pointed them out to my husband and forgot about them completly. Later on, we were lighting off some fireworks in my backyard and I sat on the patio where the ants were. Within seconds I remembered about the ants because they were biting me all up in my shorts, resulting in the ants in the pants dance.
My bottom swelled with the most unimagineable inextinguishable burning.
The next day there was no sign of them.
One of my friends said only I could manage to sit on fire ants in Illinois!
|
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
May 24, 2007
1:06 AM Post #3529770
| Maybe you should have just peed in your pants...
They say that works to take the sting out of a jellyfish sting...who knows? |
Jaws2
Fort Payne, AL
(Zone 7a)
May 24, 2007
10:14 AM Post #3530540
| I've had great success with grits, but it won't work if it gets wet before the ants eat it. Theoritically, the ants take it to the queen and it swells in her stomach and kills her. We used to surround our house once a year or so, usually in the spring.
A cousin told me he tried Tide on them, but they just came out of the ground and hung their things on a tiny little clothes line. |
mmclane
Fenton, MO
May 24, 2007
1:20 PM Post #3531268
| I've had a similar problem-except in my mailbox!!! I would go to get the mail and there would be about 50 or so ants living in there! I found a trick in that area (since I already tried to kill them and that didn't work)...get plants that NEED ants. A garden lover told me to buy peonies because they love to have the ants eat the sticky parts on top of the buds. Then, that helps the buds bloom! Now, I wonder if that would attract more ants, which I know you don't want! But, just an idea. |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
May 24, 2007
8:17 PM Post #3532530
| I have the ants in the mailbox problem too. We kill them every year. I wonder if peonies would grow at my mailbox? That's our stopping point for every dog in the neighborhood. lol. I had hostas there for many years and they struggled because of the dogs. Finally moved them and they are still struggling because of ants. Can't win the ant war here it seems. lol |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
May 27, 2007
11:21 AM Post #3541258
| Well, I gave up on the 'natural' or organic or non-pesticide ways. I've tried them all. Jaws...I'm glad the grits worked for you...maybe I didn't wait long enough. But with fire ants, they need to be dealt with sooner than later.
The hot water method and the vinegar method worked...but it also kills everything else, grass and all. So if you're wanting to get rid of weeds and all go for one of those. My yard does look a bit odd with with round bare spots all over.
But, if you want them done and gone...Spectracide. It's been 25 days and still, not one fire ant to be found. Woohoo!
Happy Memorial Weekend to all my fellow freaks of nature!!!!
Ping |
AlaskanRose
Anchor Point, AK
May 30, 2007
1:38 AM Post #3551547
| I wasn't able to read all of the posts, but have you ever tried Diatomaceous earth? I have a cordwood house (a house made out of log rounds) and had a horrible infestation of Carpenter ants that were wreaking my house. I am severely allergic to most household and garden chemicles.
Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator. It is not harmful to humans or animals. In fact, it is used in herbal parasite cleansing programs for both humans and animals.
I was able to get a 10lbs bag at my local nursery. I sprinkled it all around the house and all around the inside of my house. (since they were in the house also). And within a week I saw very few. It is something you would have to reapply often. But a lot better than anything I have tried before and I tried lots of things!
Good link with Info:
[HYPERLINK@www.dirtworks.net]
Good luck! |
AlaskanRose
Anchor Point, AK
May 30, 2007
1:50 AM Post #3551557
| For insect bites: Lemongrass essential oil. Make sure it is of good quality. (youngliving essential oils, Tisserand, Oshadhi are all good companies) Take a drop and put it either in your hand and dilute with a carrier oil (almond, olive, jojoba, etc.) or you can put it directly on the bite. If you have multiple bites put 2 or 3 drops in your hand with a small amount of carrier oil and then rub it on. Lemongrass is also a natural insect repellant. |
LeSnow
Round Lake Beach, IL
(Zone 5a)
May 31, 2007
5:06 PM Post #3558463
| This may sound extreme, but, bare with me while I tell you my story...
In Hawaii I chased fireants from one end to the other and back in my yard. I tried everything. One day my 1 1/2 year old son fell over into one of those mounds. My husband ran into the house with him covered from head to toe, it was even in his diaper. We all got bitten trying to get them out of his hair, nose, just everywhere. My son was never a cryer, he was a tough tot, but he cried softly thru the whole ordeal. It was enough to make his dad go into a fit of rage.
He went into the garage and brought out a gallon of gas and a shovel. He proceeded to dig down the hill and filled it up with gas. He let it soak down and lit it up. Would take a Captain in the fire department to think of something like that, but, it worked. Never seen those ant in 20 years. Thinking about what he did just cracks me up.
Loren
|
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
June 3, 2007
4:26 AM Post #3568594
| Loren...if you want to really crack up...scroll back to the March 16 post by WeeNel. I don't think this guy was a Captain of the fire dept...hilarious!!!
|
LeSnow
Round Lake Beach, IL
(Zone 5a)
June 3, 2007
8:15 AM Post #3568825
| Oh Gosh that is funny...I can imagine the sight. Reminds me about the time I tried to light my mother's old gas stove. Left me with no eyelashes, eyebrows, and crispy critters for hair.
Thanks for pointing that one out for me..LOL |
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
June 4, 2007
1:02 PM Post #3573721
| Well...the ants didn't leave a forwarding address but I found those scoundrels...this morning...in my compost bin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to turn the pile and lo and behold, right after I dumped the first scoop into the other bin...there they were...thousands of them! Everywhere. My heart just fell to the ground. Well I kept on scooping everthing out and into the other bin, ants and all. Seems the ants stayed on the upper half of the pile but still had stragglers, of course.
So now after waiting 3 months, turning my bin every so often...it's all in vain. What should I do?
I can't use Spectracide if I still want use the compost...
I can't put the compost in my garden loaded with fire ants... (And yes...I got 6 bites on my leg, 3 on one arm and 2 on the other. OOOOOWW!!)
What would you guys do? I am so over these ants, I could scream!!!! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
June 4, 2007
8:14 PM Post #3575504
| Wow!! Ants in the compost. I would call the fire department...just kidding. LOL
|
LeSnow
Round Lake Beach, IL
(Zone 5a)
June 4, 2007
8:20 PM Post #3575529
| Good one pepper...LOL But the problem would go up in smoke! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
June 4, 2007
8:30 PM Post #3575566
| My mom says to google fire ants and you will find all the info you need. I found quite a bit just in the first page. |
ManicReality
Houston, TX
(Zone 10a)
June 17, 2007
1:23 PM Post #3625860
| I went to a wedding a few days ago...and a lady told me to put vaseline around them and they will get stuck in it and die... Not sure if it works or not, it seems though, it'd be worth a try!
"A cousin told me he tried Tide on them, but they just came out of the ground and hung their things on a tiny little clothes line" ~hahahahahaha |
heatherfeather
June 20, 2007
2:35 PM Post #3637777
| This has been a great read to get me through the work day!!!!! Thanks to everyone! |
easter_lily
Greentown, IN
(Zone 5a)
June 20, 2007
11:35 PM Post #3639906
| Hey, Ping. I've been a quiet observer of this thread for some time now, and I cannot believe this epic saga continues!!! So, what should you do??? I personally think you should write your own cheap horror film screenplay and at least make some money off this drama if not some good garden compost! The "revival" of these ants reminds me of the neverending Jason or Michael Myers movies (none of which I ever actually saw by the way). You've got enough material just from this thread alone! So...get out your camera and start rolling the film!
Sorry... I don't have any real valuable advice. :) |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
June 20, 2007
11:36 PM Post #3639912
| Bouquets and welcome Heather! |
PharaohsMom
Woodinville, WA
June 25, 2007
2:39 PM Post #3656979
| Somebody might have posted this already.. I didn't read all the replies but I found this EASY solution on some website a couple of months ago.
POWDERED LAUNDRY SOAP.
I had ants all over our new pavers. They were all over the place and digging the dirt out on the edge of the pavers. I sprinkled 'tide with bleach' over the entire area (avoiding plants) and it really worked. It made for very clean pavers when it rained too! LOL
|
Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
June 29, 2007
10:55 AM Post #3673634
| Thanks easter lily for your support and encouragement...please remember to vote for me in the Golden Globes...
This neverending saga has turned for the worst even more so...I'm so discouraged at this point because I have totally run out of options. The worst has finally happened. The ants have taken residency in my beloved garden. sniff, sniff...
They are everywhere...all over my corn, tomatoes, peas and beans, I think they are living 'down below' in the underworld. I lost a corn stalk on the end of one of my rows and when I pulled it up...within seconds, there were hundreds. I swear it was like a horror movie. My heart just sunk.
So now I'm thinking, are they going to devour all of the root systems of all the plants? and I can't do a D#$%* thing about it!!! I have worked soooo hard on my first garden but the excitement has waned.
At this point, I am at a loss for words. (I know some of you are really finding that hard to believe) :)
If worst comes to worst, I will post a time for memorial services. sniff, sniff... |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 29, 2007
5:00 PM Post #3676141
| Ants shouldn't eat your plants' roots. I know it's annoying having so many of them and it makes it really hard to work in the garden if they're going to be crawling all over the place, but they don't typically eat plants. They can cause indirect damage to plants by farming aphids which will chew on the plants, and they might get into fruits since they like sweet things, but I don't think they'll typically eat the plants themselves. |
WeeNel
Ayrshire Scotland
(United Kingdom)
June 29, 2007
7:54 PM Post #3676855
| Hi Pinger, WeeNel back to this thread again, Gee I thought you had mastered the job at hand, now they are back again, Guess the only thing left now is to move yourself off to ANTartica, too cold for ants there I should think, but a funny from me, I have just had an elderly aunt stay for a couple of weeks over from the big city, anyway this aunt is always cleaning, she is only happy if you give her a duster, some bleach or pollish, so my family have just christened her, WAIT FOR IT, ANTibacteria, so the end of this thread so far is a real ANTiclimax as I was expecting you to be on TV advertising your ANTi ANT potion by now, felt sure you had done the trick, sorry about the veg garden, thats a bummer. I now await with ANTisipation to hear the next lot of ideas that comes forth, Good Luck Pinger, if anyone deserves an award you do, for your sheer ANTi war campaign against these little ANTisocial nippers. all the best, WeeNel. |
freetwofarm
North Tazewell, VA
June 29, 2007
8:34 PM Post #3677012
| Pinger, this is a tragedy. Since your food is gone, work with the food chain. Go down to your local pet store and order an aardvark. Stake it out in an area and when that area is clear, move it to another area. When your area is clear, rent it out. This is uuuuuuuuubelievable.
free |
CARAT
Las Vegas,NV Filber, SC
(Zone 7b)
July 2, 2007
2:24 PM Post #3686701
| I have laughed so hard from reading this thread.
Pinger, I own 14 acres just outside of Clover, SC. We do not live there as of yet so I spend alot of time traveling across the country trying to maintain the yard and house. Every time I would drive down the 500ft driveway to the house I just cringe at the mounds of red clay homes that all the fire ants had built since my last visit.
I asked all the supposed experts at the nurseries and DIY centers what to use since in NV we dont have fire ants. I heard some crazy stories including the ant wars, flame throwers, grits and ground oats, cayenne pepper, powered soap, coffee, hot water, vinegar and one about a lady that shveled out each ant hill into large trash bags and dropped them on the back of her large property.
Although I haven't been able to completely rid my property of the ants my neighbor who raises beef gave me some help.
I purchased Diatomaceous earth in a 50lb box and three bags of Ortho's pellet fire ant killer, supposedly good for 1 yr. I mixed the two in a 5 gallon bucket so the DE covered the pellets really good. I then used my broadcast spreader working my way out from the house. I did this the Saturday before Easter, notice that I still have the ants but not as many near the house. I redid it again the first weekend of May and when I arrived on the 18th of June I noticed that all the homes had moved out of the treated area.
Now I know this has been expensive and I will have to continue to slowly move them away when we finally move permenantly but I believe this method is working. I can live with them on the areas of the property that I wont be using so long as they stay away from my gardens and buildings. |
wgnkiwi
Burlingame, CA
(Zone 9a)
July 3, 2007
11:58 AM Post #3690273
| Pinger - are you related to Scutler in SC by any chance? ROFL
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
Actually I feel your pain. I loathe ants and we have huge numbers of them here. One of my kids favourite thing to do is to flood the nests with the hose until they all come scurrying out with their eggs and then stomp on them all. May not be completely effective but it sure is satisfying. Around the house in the crawl space we have sprayed a barrier to stop them coming inside. Brilliant stuff! I tried the outdoor bait stations but they didn't seem to work at all.
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
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pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
July 3, 2007
9:51 PM Post #3692426
| I have a spot full of irises and ants have made a big hole in there. Several actually. Just discovered it tonight so tomorrow I am gonna flood it. And am gonna cackle the whole time!!! lol |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
July 8, 2007
3:09 PM Post #3711585
| I flood mole holes and sing "little bunny foo foo" while I take the shovel and bop them on the head when they surface. Or you can dump them into a bucket of water, they don't swim very well, hee hee. My neighbors think I'm crazy, but I'm really a very nice person except for when moles dig in my yard.
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Pinger42
Mooresville, NC
(Zone 7b)
July 11, 2007
1:19 AM Post #3722376
| I would try your method on my ants Cathy, but I don't have a shovel small enough to bop them on their heads... |
AuntAnne
College Station, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 16, 2007
2:47 PM Post #3743002
| Well you've heard the saying when life deals you lemons open a lemon ade stand? Pier One used to sell chocolate covered ants... |
kls_01
Champaign, IL
(Zone 5b)
July 16, 2007
3:57 PM Post #3743244
| lol cathy...that reminds me of "The Shining" with Jack Nicholson and his croquet mallet...if they ever do another remake of that movie, you should definately go up for the part!
Pinger, a big shovel would just bop a lot of heads at once...well, maybe a little more than just heads...
Aunt Anne, you do have a money-making prospect...Pinger One's chocolate covered ants...
:) |
