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marcerella02 05-19-2009 05:44 PM
Gardeners please!
 
Ok so I've been dubbed the gardener in our house (funny). So we have these two gardens that are on either side of our shed backyard. In one is a LARGE ant colony- I am not calling it a hill because unless you looked closely- you would not really know it is there- as it doens't look like the typical ant hill you see on the sidewalk. Anyways- the earth is VERY hard and firm there and it is QUITE a good size. Needless to say I am now in charge of getting rid of it- any one know how I should go about this?

Nikki+2 05-19-2009 05:50 PM
I try very hard to avoid pesticides but sometimes I cave. We fight ants in FL like there is no tomorrow. If you aren't planting food there, Amdro and Spectracide both work really well for fireants. Terro is great for most of the others. If you don't have anything growing in the area yet, pouring boiling water works well but it takes several tries and patience to get them. Just don't pour it near plants because it will kill the plants too.

marcerella02 05-19-2009 05:56 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikki+2 (Post 2629492)
I try very hard to avoid pesticides but sometimes I cave. We fight ants in FL like there is no tomorrow. If you aren't planting food there, Amdro and Spectracide both work really well for fireants. Terro is great for most of the others. If you don't have anything growing in the area yet, pouring boiling water works well but it takes several tries and patience to get them. Just don't pour it near plants because it will kill the plants too.
we do have things growing around it- i had read about the boiling water- I guess i could try to be very precise where I pour it....

YorkichonBella 05-19-2009 06:01 PM
If the dirt is very hard, does it look more like hardened mud? Don't want to scare you, but read this to be sure. Please be careful! I truly hope it's not this.:(
Fascinating biology: Australian subterranean termites evolved more than 250 million year ago. They inhabited Australia long before flowering plants. Their survival success depends on living in a protective underground environment. In some species, their colony nest has a hardened shell, exposed above ground level. In most destructive species in NSW their nest is totally out of sight, below ground level.


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Worker termites build mud-tubes over hard objects. The tubes or "galleries" are made up of partly digested timber and mud excrete, and is moist if currently in active use. The termites keep it's colony nest and galleries at 25 to 35oC with high humidity. If they are exposed to light or open air they will dehydrate and die. Subterranean termites live in constant darkness, excepting for the annual summer swarms of the winged reproductives to set up new nests in the surrounding area.
FUMAPEST Newcastle Pest Control > Termites in Newcastle Hunter Valley Area > Termite Control methods

Nikki+2 05-19-2009 06:08 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by marcerella02 (Post 2629510)
we do have things growing around it- i had read about the boiling water- I guess i could try to be very precise where I pour it....
I wouldn't risk it then. I've killed grass before because it spreads so much farther underground than I think it will. Are you trying to avoid pesticides? You can bet I'll be watching this thread like a hawk because I'm always trying to find a solution myself. I planted a vegetable bed a few weeks ago that had ants. Before I planted I treated the area with so much boiling water that if we come up on a water shortage, the blame might fall in my lap.:p Thought I had the buggers, planted my veggies and lo and behold a few days later... ants!:eek: Now I have no choice and we are living amicably together for now.:p

veguroev 05-19-2009 06:15 PM
Corn grits. It swallows in their tummy and die.

marcerella02 05-19-2009 06:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by veguroev (Post 2629551)
Corn grits. It swallows in their tummy and die.
lol you can't get those here... i dont' even know what they are

marcerella02 05-19-2009 06:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by YorkichonBella (Post 2629522)
If the dirt is very hard, does it look more like hardened mud? Don't want to scare you, but read this to be sure. Please be careful! I truly hope it's not this.:(
Fascinating biology: Australian subterranean termites evolved more than 250 million year ago. They inhabited Australia long before flowering plants. Their survival success depends on living in a protective underground environment. In some species, their colony nest has a hardened shell, exposed above ground level. In most destructive species in NSW their nest is totally out of sight, below ground level.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Worker termites build mud-tubes over hard objects. The tubes or "galleries" are made up of partly digested timber and mud excrete, and is moist if currently in active use. The termites keep it's colony nest and galleries at 25 to 35oC with high humidity. If they are exposed to light or open air they will dehydrate and die. Subterranean termites live in constant darkness, excepting for the annual summer swarms of the winged reproductives to set up new nests in the surrounding area.
FUMAPEST Newcastle Pest Control > Termites in Newcastle Hunter Valley Area > Termite Control methods

hmm.. i wouldn't describe it as this- i just didn't want to give the impression it was just a sand hill.... it is somewhere in between.....

marcerella02 05-19-2009 06:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikki+2 (Post 2629535)
I wouldn't risk it then. I've killed grass before because it spreads so much farther underground than I think it will. Are you trying to avoid pesticides? You can bet I'll be watching this thread like a hawk because I'm always trying to find a solution myself. I planted a vegetable bed a few weeks ago that had ants. Before I planted I treated the area with so much boiling water that if we come up on a water shortage, the blame might fall in my lap.:p Thought I had the buggers, planted my veggies and lo and behold a few days later... ants!:eek: Now I have no choice and we are living amicably together for now.:p
IDEALLY i would like to go chemically free.... but i mean- i also want to get rid of them-

Also anyone know how to get rid of slugs that eat Hosta (sp?) plants?

veguroev 05-19-2009 06:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by marcerella02 (Post 2629562)
lol you can't get those here... i dont' even know what they are
oops! sorry! lol...:D

YorkichonBella 05-19-2009 06:38 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by marcerella02 (Post 2629563)
hmm.. i wouldn't describe it as this- i just didn't want to give the impression it was just a sand hill.... it is somewhere in between.....
So I guess you've actually 'seen' the culprits (ants)? My dh fights ants all the time in our yard. This past weekend, he came inside to find the ant spray because he saw some in his Jeep & found out why they were congregating in his glove compartment:eek:......a small leftover roll of Tums.:rolleyes:
Wish I knew some miracle without harsh chemicals. I've had an allergic reaction when bitten so I really detest them!

marcerella02 05-19-2009 06:43 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by YorkichonBella (Post 2629594)
So I guess you've actually 'seen' the culprits (ants)? My dh fights ants all the time in our yard. This past weekend, he came inside to find the ant spray because he saw some in his Jeep & found out why they were congregating in his glove compartment:eek:......a small leftover roll of Tums.:rolleyes:
Wish I knew some miracle without harsh chemicals. I've had an allergic reaction when bitten so I really detest them!
oh yes- sorry i've SEEN ants- i also loathe them as they are also in our house (have dug holes right in our front door way- trying boric acid to get rid of them...) i can deal with them outside- in my house- that's another story.

Nikki+2 05-19-2009 06:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by marcerella02 (Post 2629567)
IDEALLY i would like to go chemically free.... but i mean- i also want to get rid of them-

Also anyone know how to get rid of slugs that eat Hosta (sp?) plants?
My grandmother used to take a can (like from soup or whatever) and bury it most of the way so that the top was pretty level with the ground, fill it with beer and the slugs would come in and drown. You can also pour salt on them.

RowdysMom 05-19-2009 07:47 PM
Beneficial nematodes will take care of most ants - definitely will stop fire ants. Nematodes are microscopic living organisms that live in the soil and eat the fire ant eggs - also FLEA eggs (YAY), grub eggs, and the eggs of anything that lives in the ground. Here is a website that tells you about them. Beneficial Nematodes - Organic Insect Control

They are completely harmless to plants/animals/humans. You can usually buy them at an organic plant nursery. I'm not sure they have them in Canada - but you might check. They definitely should have them in Florida. They must be kept cold (in the fridge) until they are applied and you have to follow the application method exactly.

I've used them for about 10 years now and never have any fire ants in my yard or garden. No fleas either! YAY!

hviola 05-21-2009 08:02 PM
Check out Environmentally Responsible Gardening Products that Work – GardensAlive.com

I've been using their products and they work pretty good. They only sell all natural products. I know they have several things for insect control.

Nikki+2 05-22-2009 04:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by RowdysMom (Post 2629701)
Beneficial nematodes will take care of most ants - definitely will stop fire ants. Nematodes are microscopic living organisms that live in the soil and eat the fire ant eggs - also FLEA eggs (YAY), grub eggs, and the eggs of anything that lives in the ground. Here is a website that tells you about them. Beneficial Nematodes - Organic Insect Control

They are completely harmless to plants/animals/humans. You can usually buy them at an organic plant nursery. I'm not sure they have them in Canada - but you might check. They definitely should have them in Florida. They must be kept cold (in the fridge) until they are applied and you have to follow the application method exactly.

I've used them for about 10 years now and never have any fire ants in my yard or garden. No fleas either! YAY!
I am so glad to read this. I've been kicking around beneficial nematodes and also diatomacious earth for over a year but read reports from University of FL that they don't seem to work. Hearing they work for you is great news! I think I'm going to give them a try.

eta: Does anyone have personal experience with diatomacious earth?

veguroev 05-23-2009 08:05 AM
what about bulgur? the stuff people use to make tabouli. That one wroks similar to corn grits.

ltret0294 05-23-2009 02:45 PM
Be careful if you are going to use the diatomacious earth (DE). It is a very fine powder, can get airborne very easily and can irritate the airway. I have read that you need to use the "food grade" DE. I use it in the pool filter (DE) and quickly found out how powdery it is. The beneficial nematodes might be the better way to go.

Nikki+2 05-23-2009 03:37 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ltret0294 (Post 2634902)
Be careful if you are going to use the diatomacious earth (DE). It is a very fine powder, can get airborne very easily and can irritate the airway. I have read that you need to use the "food grade" DE. I use it in the pool filter (DE) and quickly found out how powdery it is. The beneficial nematodes might be the better way to go.
Yeah, from what I've read the DE for pesticide purposes and the DE for pools are very different forms. I was considering it for perimeter purposes and the nematodes for general spreading. If I end up ever actually following through I'll post a report.


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