:hairpull: Black garden ants have totally destroyed the roots of my rose bush. Does anyone have a natural way to get rid of them? I checked the garden stores but everything is chemical. I'd like to use something that is natural. I thought about covering the anthill in boiling water but would that hurt the other plants around the rose bush??
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Well nothing worked for my ants :hairpull:!! I even resorted to chemicals. My little rose shrub was totally overtaken by the garden ants. The good news is that the ants as well as the shrub have disappeared.
we tried the borax and icing sugar didn't seem to work for us.
Someone told me to plant tomato plants. Since I had tried everything for two years I planted three tomato plants. We have not had a problem since. I realize this suggestion is not good for this year, but if the borax and icing sugar doesn't work for you, you could try this next year...
I use Borax in my laundry all the time. I find I need less Tide and it sure makes the whites nice after a couple of washings with it. I also use it when I damp mop the floors. In the past I used it to dry flowers. :)
Great you are rids of the pesky ants.
I tried the boiling water and it worked for awhile but thanks to "Pearl Girl", I invested in Borax and Icing Sugar and "touch wood" it appears to be working. Very inexpensive and great for whites, too. ;)
No ants around ant hills, and have gotten rid of the ant hills in the interlocking walk.
Please ignore posting.
Just wanted to follow up about the cornmeal idea...it didn't work for us at all. I don't know how it works for my MIL. Anyway, we are back to using a commercial ant killer...Not a great idea, but it helps to control the amounts of ants invading our front patio area.
I have tried the cornmeal and it did not work. I read somewhere that you could put salt on the ant hill.
My MIL uses cornmeal and she says it works. I have not tried it, but our front patio is overcome with ants and I've got to do something soon. I'll let you know if it works!
Many suggestions just cause the ants to move to another location. You need to kill the queens.
Boric Acid (Borax) - a mild acidic powder which is avaiable at drug stores. Kills crawling insects by attacking their nervous system and causes dehydration - it can be mixed with an equal amount of icing sugar and sprinkled around as an ant bait that will be fed to the queens. :)
OR
Wilson's makes a syrup with 5% borax that works great. $3.99 at garden centres. Can. Tire is where I bought mine, Keep away from pets and children.
An empty plastic Rx child proof pill bottle with a hole in top and sink it into the ground with just the top showing. The ants crawl in, eat the stuff and leave to feed the queens. :) The solution never gets on the plants or pets and kids cannot open the container.
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I agree I'm a little afraid to put boiling water on my plants. But I'm going to try the cayenne pepper. A friend also just suggested coffee grounds spread oner the anthill. I'll try both & let you know which one seems to work! :)
Here is another site. [url]http://www.ehow.com/how_3791_rid-ants-naturally.html[/url]
After reading it, I now realize that the reason that my ants are coming back every three weeks (but not as many) is that I am not putting enough hot water on my walkway. We have been getting alot of damp weather and it seems to bring out the ants as well as the weeds between the interlocking stones. Good Luck!!
I have also heard of the citrus peelings remedy but had always thought that it would attract ants. Let us know what works. ( Everyone is looking for a good remedy.)
Check out this site:
[url]http://www.eartheasy.com/live_natpest_control.htm[/url]
It tells how to control "household" insects, but it might help in your garden too....
Failing that you really do have to go with chemicals :hairpull:
I have used boiling water as recommended on a forum for a paved walkway but I don't think I would recommend it for plants. However, I have heard that cayanne pepper will also discourage ants.