Ants in Garden

[fugacity]

Kill them. Had ants on my long beans, figured they were doing no harm. Today I found they have eaten into the beans.

[Lizz9311]

Much of our yard (front and back) as well as our gardens are full of ants. I may use some of these tips to help bring the population down, at the very least.

[Direct Sunlight]

8 or 10 bites from fire ants can quickly change your mind about whether they are doing any harm. I've used grits; a bit slow but it seems to work, after about 3 days. The ants can't digest it, and when it gets moisture it swells up the mound and suffocates the queen, or so I've heard.

I've also heard that grits don't work from August on, as ants are preparing for the winter & it doesn't work as well then. Anyone know the science behind that?

[skippydel13KYzone6]

If you can find the nest, pour boiling water, will kill the ants and the eggs. I have a few (seems everyone is having problems with them in the house this year) but knock on wood I'm not bothered with that.

[Roadrunner]

Originally Posted by skippydel13KYzone6

If you can find the nest, pour boiling water, will kill the ants and the eggs. I have a few (seems everyone is having problems with them in the house this year) but knock on wood I'm not bothered with that.

I use to have problems with ants in my house, but not any more. I'm not sure why, but I tend to think that all the mulching I've done around my house (with leaves) has created such a rich biodiverse environment, compared to what use to be barren grass. I believe this, now rich biodiverse environment, gives them all they want/need and so they stay out of my house. Yes, it's only anecdotal data, but that's all I can think of that's different today. BTW, I'm in no shortage of ants outside, if anything I have more now, but they stay out of the house.

[catgrass]

Time & time again, the LSU ag center tells us that "grits" do not work. A substance similar to grits is used in Amdro, but only as a carrying agent. I've tried it, and if it works, I can't tell. Anything you use will kill some, and they'll just move. Something you have to stay on top of. And right now, with all the rain we've been having, they're scattered and everywhere.

[RozieDozie]

Sadly, fire ants are a scourge here and last year they almost destroyed the okra, corn, eggplant and even peppers.

This year, sad to say, we've resorted to bait that poisons the queen and thus kills the mound. I've tried every conceivable method of organic control, but once their population expands and they invade, there not much you can do except kill them.

[HudsonValleyGrown]

I have an unknown vine plant gourd or pumkin that has ants all over the bottom of the leaves. Should I try to get rid of them or let them go.

[Tutter]

Ants always go to okra plants, at least around here they do. They cause no harm, in fact I've often wondered if the ants are beneficial to the okra in some way.

I don't know anything about fire ants, don't get those here.

[RozieDozie]

Originally Posted by Tutter

Ants always go to okra plants, at least around here they do. They cause no harm, in fact I've often wondered if the ants are beneficial to the okra in some way.

I don't know anything about fire ants, don't get those here.

You are lucky.