Ants?

sarah16 5/15/2010, 8:49 pm

We have a lot of ants on our property. I just got my beautiful new SFG set up earlier this week and today while watering noticed lots on ants trekking around on top of my mix. I've never done this before and don't want an ant farm in my mel's mix. Are they anything to worry about? Should I put granules or something on the the outside edges of my boxes, or leave them be? Thanks!

auntij 5/15/2010, 8:54 pm

If you are worried about chemicals tried ground cinnamon. We had a few HUGE ant colonies and searched online and found the cinnamon trick and were amazed with the results! If you have a dollar store nearby go buy a few bottles you won't be disappointed.

Megan 5/15/2010, 11:07 pm

I have ants, too, and am also starting to wonder if I should be worried. They don't seem to be harming my plants??

trustingHim 5/15/2010, 11:19 pm

We had a terrible ant infestation this year. We actually had 5 different kinds on our property. We ended up having to call a pest control specialist friend come to take care of the problem. I tried everything natural that I could think of before having to resort to chemicals.

I hope that you don't have to resort to extremes.

good luck.

Chopper 5/15/2010, 11:23 pm

The worst thing about ants is that they farm aphids for their nectar. So where there are ants it can easily follow that you will have aphids so it is worth keeping them out of your garden.

I am all for 'nature' until it is in my house or messing with my garden! Ants? Icon_smile

Lavender Debs 5/16/2010, 1:15 am

Oh, Trusting, I'm sorry about that!

I sat and watched ants march across the grids and kept thinking "aw, nature!" Then I thought about my huge peas and aphids and enation. Sprinkled cinnimon around the edge of the box and put an end to ants in my garden.

Deborah ....now it smells like I should be having toast

trustingHim 5/16/2010, 8:56 am

I did try the cinnamon. At least it made the garden smell lovely! Ants? Icon_surprised

dmpower 5/21/2010, 10:18 am

you can also try artificial sweetener. Either the blue or pink packs
should work. They like the sweetness, but it will kill them. I read this
earlier this week, but haven't tried it yet. There was also a comment
that the artificial sweeteners were originally designed for such a
purpose.

trustingHim 5/21/2010, 1:37 pm

How scary is that?! I'm glad that we don't use artificial sweetners. We like stevia.

dmpower 5/21/2010, 1:54 pm

trustingHim wrote:How scary is that?! I'm glad that we don't use artificial sweetners. We like stevia.

No kidding!! The person who posted said 'at least it doesn't kill kids and dogs' I didn't want to start an argument but it could very well cause a lot of damage.
I like stevia as well and have planted a square with the little sweet plant

Megan 5/21/2010, 6:40 pm

I have grown stevia a few times just for fun, but am not really sure how to use the plant itself in a culinary sense. I have read about it, of course, but the cooking properties of the stevia you buy off the shelf do not react the same as a regular sugar would. Sure is fun to pick a few leaves and munch on them, though. Would be a nice addition to sweet iced tea, if I drank my iced tea sweet that is.

dmpower 5/21/2010, 7:36 pm

I don't think anything matches pure cane sugar for cooking, but for drinks and tea it is great.

trustingHim 5/28/2010, 11:39 am

Ooh- that sounds nice! A few mint leaves and some stevia leaves in a nice cold glass of Iced tea..... I could use one right now. I can't believe that I am already having to water everyday because of the heat!

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