Ants - how do I get rid of them?

[appledumpling]

When we moved into the house the garden needed some TLC. We sorted it out and in the process discovered lots and lots of ants. I mean lots. The nests were under a path of paving slabs which we took up and disposed of. We like to garden without pesticides but on this occasion we bought the nastiest, most chemically horrible stuff we could and blitzed the place.

Result - no more ants (although next door complained some time later that his garden was mysteriously full of ants ).

That was 4 years ago but now the little blighters are back with a vengeance. They are in my compost bin, coating my rhubarb and spinach and are also all over my climbing rose which is in a planter at the other end of the garden. They're everywhere.

Help! I can't really cover the whole garden in ant powder. Can I? Should I? What do I do?

[EmilyDavidson]

They absolutely hate talc (the normal baby talc) .That works a treat indoors but I dont know if it would be any good outside with all this rain

[appledumpling]

It would be worth a try in the compost bin though as that's sealed so the rain can't get in.

I'm all for live and let live and letting nature do its thing but I do feel a bit over-run by them.

[ComeOVeneer]

Source the nest and pour copious amounts of boiling water all over it. We had a huge nest and I was loathed to put chemicals down as have small children and cats, so did this a couple of times and we are all clear

[Tanee58]

God Appleblossom, how horrible. I've just got ants all under my lawn and that's bad enough. I've been pouring buckets of cold water on the area (I heard hot would kill the grass) and that with the recent rain seems to have done the trick. I saw something in Amateur Gardening last week suggesting something to apply which they take down to their nests and kills the little b**rs . I'll have a look tonight when I get home and try to let you know.

[ComeOVeneer]

Tanee we bought a couple of those ant bait stations, which, as you say they go into then take whatever it is back to the nest and contaminate all of them , but you have to put severalaround the garden and leave them for quite a while and I was worried ds (2) would get hold of them.

Not sure about theboiling water damaging grass (but thinking about it is is quite likely), but we were fortunate in that our nest extended he entire length of the garden but only in the soil of a long flower bed, with lavender bushes that seem none the worse`for it.

[SpacePuppy]

I would think cold water could do the trick too, ants can't swim, so hot or cold water will not make a difference.

[appledumpling]

Ant bait would also be good and DS is only 14 weeks so not much chance of him getting hold of it just yet.

I guess DH and I will be on an ant nest quest this evening if it doesn't rain. He'll love that :-)

[wishingfourgotone]

bleach if you no where there nest is!
Talcum powder clogs there pores.
Personally i use Raid its fab i use the one in red tin!

[Tanee58]

Yes - in moderation. But not great if they run riot over your feet --eugh! Or invade pots, where they make nests that use up all the compost & leave the plants hanging in thin air - so they suddenly collapse. And the red ones bite...