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Fire ants in the garden
Posted on 5/3/24 at 4:50 pm
Posted on 5/3/24 at 4:50 pm
These frickers are crazy this year. Had a rain this morning so just went out to take a look. They are everywhere, not just some starting a mound here and there. Running like trains on the ground. Unfortunately I found that out the hard way, was barely an area where they weren’t active.
Is there anything to use in a garden that’s effective? I’ve tried the mound swaps that works some for those. Not sure what would work as a overall strategy.
So frustrating
Is there anything to use in a garden that’s effective? I’ve tried the mound swaps that works some for those. Not sure what would work as a overall strategy.
So frustrating
12
Posted on 5/3/24 at 4:57 pm to CAT
they are bad at my place too.
I’m covered in welts just trying to work my beds
I’ve tried everything (while trying to not poison my beds). amdro works eventually but that doesn’t help the day you are trying to get something done
I’m covered in welts just trying to work my beds
I’ve tried everything (while trying to not poison my beds). amdro works eventually but that doesn’t help the day you are trying to get something done
Posted on 5/3/24 at 5:02 pm to CAT
When I was prepping my beds for this spring all four were filled with ants. I threw some Amdro all over each bed and mixed it in with a hoe. after a week there were zero.
ETA: I started burning my beds for initial prep, and that has also helped some. If there are mounds anywhere I give them a good dose of lighter fluid and let it soak in. Been successful in the yard with that as well.
ETA: I started burning my beds for initial prep, and that has also helped some. If there are mounds anywhere I give them a good dose of lighter fluid and let it soak in. Been successful in the yard with that as well.
This post was edited on 5/3/24 at 5:04 pm
Posted on 5/3/24 at 5:02 pm to cgrand
Same here.,they are everywhere around the interior perimeter of my garden. They get deep in the soil too. Unfortunately I had to use a little chemical to eradicate them
Posted on 5/3/24 at 6:27 pm to CAT
We have red dirt clay. When fire ants make a bed in the tilled garden they are indistinguishable from the surrounding dirt. You just cannot see them.
That's the scene when thirteen-year-old me was chopping some weeds in shorts and sandals. I was almost finished when the ambush happened.
I found out that day that fire ants coordinate their biting. They don't bite as soon as they get on you. They wait until their numbers have built, then one of them counts to three. They all bite at once. Then, you run from the garden, yelling, slapping at yourself like a fool, making a beeline to the water hose.
That's the scene when thirteen-year-old me was chopping some weeds in shorts and sandals. I was almost finished when the ambush happened.
I found out that day that fire ants coordinate their biting. They don't bite as soon as they get on you. They wait until their numbers have built, then one of them counts to three. They all bite at once. Then, you run from the garden, yelling, slapping at yourself like a fool, making a beeline to the water hose.
Posted on 5/3/24 at 8:51 pm to LegendInMyMind
Spray WP demon on the mounds. It will not hurt the flower bed but will hurt the fire ants 
Posted on 5/3/24 at 9:19 pm to CAT
I've had good luck with both amdro and spectracide mound killer. Stuff that "kills the queen". Read the directions and put it out when it's not going to rain for a few days.
They or another colony seems to pop up the next year in a completely different spot. But I had a bunch of mounds when I moved in and now only have one or two in the spring and after treating the mound is dead in two weeks.
They or another colony seems to pop up the next year in a completely different spot. But I had a bunch of mounds when I moved in and now only have one or two in the spring and after treating the mound is dead in two weeks.
This post was edited on 5/3/24 at 10:11 pm
Posted on 5/3/24 at 9:47 pm to iron banks
quote:
Spray WP demon on the mounds. It will not hurt the flower bed but will hurt the fire ants
I take care of them using the white powder that stinks to all hell. I just can't take care of them if I can't see them.
I haven't had serious fire any issues in years, though.
Posted on 5/3/24 at 11:33 pm to LegendInMyMind
We spread Talstar/Biphenyl on the mounds to kill them. Works great.
This post was edited on 5/4/24 at 12:50 pm
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:58 am to CAT
Onion slices on top of any gathering places/mounds.
Just get a bag of cheap white onions and start slicing. As warm and wet as it’s been the slices will rot quickly and not be an eyesore (nor nasal-sore).
Just get a bag of cheap white onions and start slicing. As warm and wet as it’s been the slices will rot quickly and not be an eyesore (nor nasal-sore).
Posted on 5/4/24 at 3:24 pm to CAT
AMDRO is the way.
Posted on 5/4/24 at 5:42 pm to Sidicous
quote:
Onion slices on top of any gathering places/mounds.
I have never heard of this…does it kill them or just make them move?
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:26 pm to CAT
Chlordane
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:39 pm to Spankum
I have a lot of wild onions, they ain't killed shite.
I actually just put some amdro on a mound at the edge of my yard that had three wild onions growing through it.
I actually just put some amdro on a mound at the edge of my yard that had three wild onions growing through it.
This post was edited on 5/4/24 at 6:48 pm
Posted on 5/4/24 at 7:31 pm to Spankum
quote:
I have never heard of this…does it kill them or just make them move?
I have them move, have heard of other allium varieties working too but not directly observed it.
Once they move out of the garden nuke them with chemicals.
Slicing the onions produces the release of the sulphur and ruins their fungus farming (ants cultivate fungus in the tunnels to feed on).
Posted on 5/4/24 at 8:48 pm to Sidicous
quote:
(ants cultivate fungus in the tunnels to feed on).
Ants are great farmers, they're actually remarkable in that capacity. They will actually move aphids onto the plants they need them on so the aphids can create "honey dew" and they can eat it or take it to the colony.
Posted on 5/5/24 at 7:53 am to CAT
Liquid Bifen. DIY pest control. Good for 6 months and I believe safe for kids and pets and vegetables
Posted on 5/5/24 at 8:35 am to TheBoo
We use corn starch. Dont want to have any harsh chemicals in the beds where we are growing.
The corn starch just drives them to other locations but we are able to keep them out of the beds. Its a constant fight.
The corn starch just drives them to other locations but we are able to keep them out of the beds. Its a constant fight.
Posted on 5/5/24 at 8:46 am to CAT
I’ve used this method with some success. But instead of cutting a hole in the water bottle I drilled 5/32” holes in the cap so that bees couldn’t get in.
Posted on 5/5/24 at 9:19 am to PillageUrVillage
hell yes
going to try this today
thx my friend
going to try this today
thx my friend
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