I really hate ants!

Southern Gardener

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Messages
1,558
Reaction score
8
Points
142
Location
NW Louisiana Zone 8a
They are all over inside my little greenhouse. I got home from work to check on my seedlings and they came pouring out of a tray I have marigold seeds planted in. We have a huge problem with them in our neck of the woods. Any suggestions on how to keep them out of my greenhouse? I swear my one little acre is sitting on a giant ant hill. :somad
 

thistlebloom

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
16,473
Reaction score
17,411
Points
457
Location
North Idaho 48th parallel
I apply a thick band of diatomaceous earth around the foundation of my house to discourage the carpenter ants.
They also wont cross vaseline (but that can get a little yukky ) and if you put the legs of tables or benches in low cans , like tuna, filled with water they won't climb the legs.
I just watched a youtube video on boric acid as an ant bait, and I think I'll be adding that to my arsenal this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij5js66ic7w
 

lesa

Garden Master
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
6,645
Reaction score
570
Points
337
Location
ZONE 4 UPSTATE NY
I am really against poison of all kinds- but I make an exception for those little ant traps (a small can with an opening). They really work fast.
 

grow_my_own

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
218
Reaction score
76
Points
133
Location
Zone 9a
thistlebloom said:
I apply a thick band of diatomaceous earth around the foundation of my house to discourage the carpenter ants.
They also wont cross vaseline (but that can get a little yukky ) and if you put the legs of tables or benches in low cans , like tuna, filled with water they won't climb the legs.
I just watched a youtube video on boric acid as an ant bait, and I think I'll be adding that to my arsenal this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij5js66ic7w
I didn't watch the video, but you can't use boric acid if you have other pets. It's deadly to them, too. If a dog or cat walks across it and then later licks their paw... it's not good. If you use boric acid and have other pets in the house, I would imagine you would have to be very judicious about where you apply it in your house.
 

thistlebloom

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
16,473
Reaction score
17,411
Points
457
Location
North Idaho 48th parallel
grow_my_own said:
thistlebloom said:
I apply a thick band of diatomaceous earth around the foundation of my house to discourage the carpenter ants.
They also wont cross vaseline (but that can get a little yukky ) and if you put the legs of tables or benches in low cans , like tuna, filled with water they won't climb the legs.
I just watched a youtube video on boric acid as an ant bait, and I think I'll be adding that to my arsenal this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij5js66ic7w
I didn't watch the video, but you can't use boric acid if you have other pets. It's deadly to them, too. If a dog or cat walks across it and then later licks their paw... it's not good. If you use boric acid and have other pets in the house, I would imagine you would have to be very judicious about where you apply it in your house.
The video showed how to make it as a bait applied to a cotton ball. It seems it would be a simple thing to contain the cotton ball in a plastic container of some sort and punch holes in it for the ants to go in and out.

I was curious about the toxicity of boric acid,so I did some reading, and after looking at a lot of opinion based sites I read from the National Pesticide Information Center which seemed to be more fact based. Boric acid has a very low toxicity unless ingested in large quantities. Similar to table salt. Soooo.... just use common sense.
 

Southern Gardener

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Messages
1,558
Reaction score
8
Points
142
Location
NW Louisiana Zone 8a
Good ideas - thanks. I'm going to try the DE (I need some anyway for the chicken coop) and the little ant traps. Where do you buy your DE thistle?
 

HunkieDorie23

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Messages
1,066
Reaction score
36
Points
177
Location
Georgia Bound
thistlebloom said:
I apply a thick band of diatomaceous earth around the foundation of my house to discourage the carpenter ants.
They also wont cross vaseline (but that can get a little yukky ) and if you put the legs of tables or benches in low cans , like tuna, filled with water they won't climb the legs.
I just watched a youtube video on boric acid as an ant bait, and I think I'll be adding that to my arsenal this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij5js66ic7w
You are so cool!
 

thistlebloom

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
16,473
Reaction score
17,411
Points
457
Location
North Idaho 48th parallel
Southern Gardener said:
Good ideas - thanks. I'm going to try the DE (I need some anyway for the chicken coop) and the little ant traps. Where do you buy your DE thistle?
I get mine in 50 pound bags ( I know! It lasts a verrry long time! ) from a small health food store that was kind enough to add it to their order from a company they use. I had to do a lot of calling around to find a place that even knew what I was talking about. The best part is that it was only $18 for that amount. :)


Why, garsh, thank you 'Dorie!
 

seedcorn

Garden Master
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
9,651
Reaction score
9,979
Points
397
Location
NE IN
Southern Gardener said:
They are all over inside my little greenhouse. I got home from work to check on my seedlings and they came pouring out of a tray I have marigold seeds planted in. We have a huge problem with them in our neck of the woods. Any suggestions on how to keep them out of my greenhouse? I swear my one little acre is sitting on a giant ant hill. :somad
I hear you and agree. I moved my garden into middle of a huge ant colony. I had to resort to chemicals. I never got them completely killed out (not a goal) but I sure reduced the numbers. Figured there was a lot of ground/yard, they could just move their colony. Live or die, their decision.
 
Top