Anybody dealt with ants in their raised beds? I've got a big bed in one the beds I haven't planted yet.

I don't really wanna put Ortho in my garden but how else do I get ride of these things so I can plant?

Bait?

Coffee grounds have worked for me.

Diatomaceous earth.

For organic gardening I've heard of people using a mixture of manure tea, orange oil, and molasses.

Personally I would use Beyer fire ant killer (white powder in a blue bottle sold at walmart/Lowe's). Disturb an area of their mound/colony, sprinkle about 1-2 table spoons directly on the disturbed area. Come back in a few days and shovel out the remaining powder and the soil right below it (more soil if it rained). I try to time it where it doesn't rain. Repeat as needed. Good luck!

txags92 said:

---

Diatomaceous earth.

---

I thought this is more for low humidity/moisture areas. I'm curious if you've successfully used it in a garden?

It is not a long term solution for sure, but there is no reason it won't work to clear out ants in a bed he wants to plant in. I have used it in trees growing in containers on my porch and had no problems. If all he is looking to do is get rid of the ants so he can plant, it should work just fine.

if you haven't planted in it yet, orange oil drench. If planted, spinosad.

I hear gasoline and fire works.

Orange oil and molasses works well. I use it all the time. Bob Webster talks about it all the time on his gardening show on KTSA here in San Antonio. Don't remember the exact formula but I just put a pretty heavy splash of oranage oil and a pretty good splash of molasses in a big plastic pitcher I have. Fill it with water (about a gallon) and drench the mound.

Start by concentrating in the center to try to get it down to the queen, then drench the whole mound.

Works great and it's organic.

Question. Would leaving the nest help the garden against pests you don't want? Aphids etc.

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Amdro

---

That stuff wreaks....

I've used neem oil and spinosad (liquid and bait granules) with success. May have to repeat if they come back. It's not a permanent solution but it shouldn't hurt you either.

Thanks for all the suggestions. And I'm not too concerned with the remedy being organic. I'm just not sure it was safe to dump ant killer in the garden.

Appreciate it fellas! OB always comes through

AggieDruggist89 said:

---

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Amdro

---

That stuff wreaks....

---

Stinks? So what? It works.

Pretty sure if you read the amdro label it specifies not to use in gardens, etc.

Kenneth_2003 said:

---

aggieorbitalwelder said:

---

Pour a pot of boiling water on it

---

molten aluminum

---

Those things are neat

I use a phrethrin mixed in water. Kills the whole mound in a matter of minutes and doesn't harm plants.

CanyonAg77 said:

---

AggieDruggist89 said:

---

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Amdro

---

That stuff wreaks....

---

Stinks? So what? It works.

---

I believe he's thinking of Orthene. Amdro has no odor, and the label says not use it IN the garden.