Hi all, This is my first post in these forums, so an extra hello to all!. I discovered this morning what appears to be an ant colony forming in a pot in our patio. This is a new building compound (2 years old).The first level of the compound is an open area used as patios and separated by a public hedge. Anyway, all these patios have doors to the sitting room, so the prospect of having ants there does not seem very attractive. The pot where the colony is quite big and as peculiarity, it is filled with compost -I suppose that is not the way it is supposed to be, I am a city gardener am afraid-, there is a very nice tree in it just starting to grow its leaves. I have bought anti-ant powder, but I am wary to lay it down on the nest entrance since this one must be quite crude (there is a warning image in the package, with a leavless tree and a dead fish), i prefer environment-friendly ways, and I certainly don´t want the tree harmed. So I wonder what are my options? should I try to erradicate the colony? I include some pictures -not the clearest am afraid though. The ants are small, a few mm only. Any help much appreciated, Leo
You might like to start by reading this thread on ants - it has some good advice. There are also a number of similar queries re: ants in containers - here's a search for [SEARCH]ants[/SEARCH] on the forums.
Yep thank you, it is a very interesting link. I suppose for now Ill let it be and see how the thing progresses, they seem to be "good" ants anyways.
Hi Guanche, If the pot isn't too infested yet you might try diatomaceous earth. Maybe you know it's the pulverised remains of sea diatoms, not a toxic material. Its sharp particles cut the exoskeleton of bugs and they—ugh—ooze to death. It will do in 'good folks' like bees or lady bugs if the powder is indiscriminately sprayed on plants, especially those in flower, so discrimination in using it is required. If they're coming from the outside of the pot a ring of the powder around the base of your pot will discourage them and actually do them in if they walk into it. We had ants running in our door from the deck so I put a line of the powder along the opening and they desisted. If it rains though, you'll need to renew it. Our friends across from us have a log cabin which was invaded by carpenter ants. We put the powder along their runs in the cracks of the logs and it appears they got rid of them. You could give it a try. Avoid breathing in the dust too much while applying.
I don't know if this actually works or not because I've never tried it but I read somewhere that if you sprinkle corn meal around where ants are present, they will eat it and die. Apparently ants can't digest corn meal. Again, I can't guarantee the validity of this because I haven't tried it myself.
hello rose is right i have tried corn flour mixed with a little mustard powder. it works. but you have to keep renewing it everytime you spot ants. sathya
Hello all, I've heard cornmeal works on ants, but I don't put out 'food' here because it attracts rodents. As well, I put some bonemeal under an unfenced rhubarb plant once thinking no sane four-footer would be tempted to eat the plant. A raccoon dug it up, tossed it aside and looked for the bonemeal. Ah, Mother Nature's children are very zealous in their search for food.:-)
Hi SSI gardener, Where can I find this powder? I have trouble every year with black ants (not the carpenter kind, but large nevertheless. Nothing I have tried works on them - they refuse to eat the ant bait, or to go into the traps I have set out. I've spent about $40 over the past 3 years trying to get rid of them and nothing works! thanks, Cate
Hi Cate, I got mine at our local garden centre. I asked them to bring it in for me as they didn't carry it at that time. This last time they had a big forty pound bulk bag out the back. I last used it on a row of young peas which were being cut off at the roots overnight. Even though I went out with a flashlight in the dark I couldn't find a culprit. With a spoon I carefully laid a wide band along the row, tucking it gently in at the roots. Overnight the problem was solved. Needs replacing after rain or watering. Once again I advise caution in its use as it's non-specific and will kill good insects too, such as bees and ladybugs if used as a dust, especially at flowering time. Although it's non-toxic, indiscriminate dusting about is not good for you either as breathing in a cloud of it can irritate throat and lungs. Just lay it gently, without too much 'powdering' of it, for the perceived problem. Hope your garden centre can get some for you. Be persistent in your search and be sure it's just diatomaceous earth, as some products are sold with 'enhancing' goodies (read toxic). Happy gardening, :-) Lynetta
Thanks Lynetta, I'll go to Ritchie's here they're about the best gc around these parts. If anyone can get it they can. The area I want to do is at the side of the house not near any garden or veggies. Nothing grows along there so there will be few, if any pollinators, in fact we will be putting some large pavers and white gravel in there (someday, sigh...) I will probably wear a face mask just to be careful. Cate
