Ant Control

[Shelley Lou]

Hi there, I am new to GYO, have only just registered today. Problem is ants. There are nests in the soil with my rocket lettuce and Chinese leaves. Is it ok just to leave them? Will they eat or damage my crop. Does anyone have a remedy for this problem they could share with me.

Many thanks.

[Nicos]

Hello there Shelley Lou!! ...and welcome to the Vine!!

Never really had a problem so far with ants, although we do find them in the greenhouse on the peach tree when it starts to get covered in blackfly.
They are quite a good indicator for us, so we have left them be. ( just spraying the blackfly must keep their numbers down.)

As a child we used to pour boiling water on the nests.

[Shelley Lou]

I've never grown anything before so thought would try out some salad options in the garden (our local allotment is chockablock at the mo). If the ants are not going to be a problem I will leave them, pouring boiling water over, will the hot water affect my salad crop?

[Nicos]

Only if they are already in the soil!
If the salad crop isn't planted out yet, then you'd just be sterilising the soil at the same time, which isn't a bad thing. Just watch out for plants with nearby roots.
Maybe a few of the other Grapes can give you advice on what they have done!

[LaurenGrows]

Hi Shelley Lou, Welcome to the vine

This is some info I found when I googled. I hope this helps with your ANT problem.
How to get rid of ants...
Ants can be a real nuiscance to get rid of in the garden, particularly if they choose to build their nests under a plant or in a container. The continuous tunnelling loosens the soil exposing the roots to the air causing the plant to wilt or die.

Ants detest the smell of Eucalyptus oil, so make up a solution using 20 drops of essential oil to every 2 litres of water. Pour or spray over the nest and the ants will soon flee!
Lauren

[Shelley Lou]

Being a complete and utter newby to the growing veg game, I planted my seedlings out about a week ago and luckily the weather has been excellent and they are growing quite well. When I planted the crop there were no ants in site, now there are thousands of the little blighters. Does anyone else have any advice they can give me pretty please.

[Shelley Lou]

That sounds like some sound advice. The oil won't destroy my crop though will it?

[shirlthegirl43]

Oil of cloves in the watering water will also clear ants without harming your plants. Can't remember the proportions but think it was a small bottle to a watering can

[LaurenGrows]

Shelley, I would pour the Oil Mixture directly onto the ants nest. You might have to take a few minutes to see where they travel to and fro from etc to see where the nest is. Other Grapes will be along later who might have some other advice.
Lauren

[LaurenGrows]

[SIZE="2"]I also found this info too.
[/SIZE

If ants encroach then its time to poach!
Ants, if you can find their hill, pour boiling water on it. If it doesn't kill the queen the first time, try it again.

Anti Detergents
If you can't find the hill, sprinkle dry clothes detergent or dishwashing detergent where they can get to it. There's something about the detergent that attracts them and they carry it back to their hill. What they don't understand - it poisons them.

Wash & Go
Ants like dry, light soils, so by applying a regular drenching of water via a sprinkler or rose watering can will make them pack up and move.

Ants hate Tansy
The herb 'Tansy' has a very strong smell that discourages ants from setting up home. So plant some Tansy in your garden.


]

[mikk100]

My darlek compost bin is riddled with ants at home, I just noticed this yesterday, some have wings but I suppose they won't be going anywhere as i have a lid on it, I also have a nest elsewhere and quite a lot of red and black ants at the allotment. I know I'm soft but I think they are really clever and like to watch them HOWEVER, I have been trying to establish whether they eat the crops or damage anything because that would be another story. Last year they were up and down my cherry tree and I don't know why, I have heard they are helpful in the garden but again I don't know how...can anyone help or should I just get rid??

[Alice]

Hello Mik, the ants would be up and down your cherry tree harvesting the black fly. As for the rest of your ants, I don't know. I've noticed I have them in my raised bed, but haven't decided what to do yet.

[Shelley Lou]

I have just been to the shops and have got some Eucalyptus oil and will try this method later, will post my results in a few days. Many thanks for all the advice, this forum is brilliant. Any other advice gladly welcome.

[Protea]

I always have problems with Ants in my greenhouse, especially on my chilli plants for some reason - they destroy the flowers!

I found through trial and error that garlic granules sprinkled on the compost in each pot kept them away (they moved as soon as i put them on - obviously don't like the smell!). I had to replenish the granules later in the summer as the smell had worn off, but i also found the ants weren't quite so bothered by then.

New Horizon sell the garlic granules i think in garden centres - and i've found them on this site as well: http://www.william-sinclair.co.uk/Ho...age&AutoFramed down the bottom of the page.

edited to add - you can't seem to buy them from that site, but this one does on-line sales: http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/v3/g...c-781_820.html

Garlic granules can be used when your plants are growing in the soil - they won't kill the ants, but hopefully put them off until your crop is harvested, then you can use one of the 'killing' methods mentioned above when the soil is free!

[bramble]

Why is nobody using ant powder. I had a real problem with ants in the greenhouse last year. I bought a container of ant powder, sprinkled it on the staging and in a few days they had disappeared.