Army of Ants in my Garden

[Poodles]

I have a large ant mound that came up last fall over one of my watermelons. Needless to say, I let them have the watermelon. I have tried the recommended "borax" treatment, the "feed them oatmeal" and the "drown them with boiling water" methods, but nothing has helped.

I still have an attacking ant army in my garden. It seems that they have grown in numbers, their hill is bigger... and I swear they have ammo. (Everyone else is stocking up, why not the ant army?) They are the little reddish black looking buggers.

They need to die, die, die!!!!

Anyway, does anyone know how to kill these little buggers without ruining my "organic" garden?

[restless]

We have an ant problem in our neighborhood in general. No matter where you dig, there are the tiny black ants and the larger brown variety that bite painfully. I have always used the boiling water and boric acid powder treatment when I find a large nest. I find I have to treat with the boiling water several times a day for several days. The boric acid stuff takes longer to work. In the spring, we always have several attacks on the house by the tiny black ones. We use a combination of vinager, hot water, traps, and borax to head them off.

[RozieDozie]

Poodles, if they are fire ants, they can do lots of harm so keep working at getting rid of them in your garden area.

Unless you're willing to resort to poison (and even that doesn't work very well), the most you can hope for is to get them to move to an area out of the garden.

One way is to keep flooding their nest with water. I take the hose, bury the nozzle in the center of the nest and turn it on. Eventually, their eggs will float to the top, meaning the water has penetrated. I keep doing that several times a day for as long as it takes for them to get the message that they need to move.

[Cowpati]

Walter Reeves University of Georgia ag dept. suggests pouring 2 cups of club soda directly in the center of the mound. Theory is that the carbon dioxide in the soda is heavier than air and displaces the oxygen and they suffocate. Worth a try and safe for all. This was for fire ants but don't know why it wouldn't be effective for others.

[Poodles]

Is Boric Acid the same as Borax (12 Mule kind)? I use the borax powder on my carpet to get rid of fleas. It works wonders with fleas.

[catgrass]

IF they are fire ants, it is correct that you will probably NEVER be rid of them, but you can make them move. I have heard of the Club Soda solution, but have never tried it. all the other "homemade" remedies do NOT work on fire ants. Invest in Amdro and they will move-some will die. Will take a couple of days. You will have to keep surveying your yard and treat accordingly. I've never had a problem with other types of ants so I can't help ya there!

[Roadrunner]

Originally Posted by Poodles

Is Boric Acid the same as Borax (12 Mule kind)? I use the borax powder on my carpet to get rid of fleas. It works wonders with fleas.

Borax becomes boric acid when mixed with hydrochloric acid. http://www.ehow.com/how_7826421_conv...oric-acid.html

[Train]

Ya

I had posted this fix many times before
until it was yanked by the owner.
I uploaded it to my site because I consider
it too important to not do so.
I would not have done so if there had
been another way to post the video here
but the constrictions are too tight to
allow it.
So, here is where I think you can find it.
http://youtu.be/i7P7pCgWM6k
Better get there quick because if this
guy complains to me I will jerk it fast.
I don't want to hurt him.
Train

[catgrass]

Train have you tried any of that? Does it work? Just wondering. We've had a tremendous amount of rain in the last few days, so it won't be long the nests will be popping up all over. I have to treat around my garden beds every spring for several weeks to finally get them to move somewhere else.

[Train]

Originally Posted by catgrass

Train have you tried any of that? Does it work? Just wondering. We've had a tremendous amount of rain in the last few days, so it won't be long the nests will be popping up all over. I have to treat around my garden beds every spring for several weeks to finally get them to move somewhere else.

Ya

I have and they did work.
That guy is dead on.
I didn't have everything
but I did have diatomaceous
earth and boric acid.
I will have to pick up the
other ingredient he spoke of.
When it rains, re-apply.
You might re-alpply
after a few days anyway.
Train