ANTS - Helpers or Hindrance

[art600]

As my repotting has proceeded I have discovered ants in the sand plunge.  At this time of year they are just about to fly the nest.
Any suggestions on the best way to deal with the infestation.

I know they distribute seeds, especially Cyclamen, but I HATE them.  Thy make me feel itchy all over.

Thanks in advance

[Giles]

Dear Arthur,
I don't like ants either.
They loosen the compost around plant roots (often sufficiently to kill a plant), and of course they 'farm' greenfly for their
honeydew, and as result contribute to the spread of viruses amongst your plants.
I've found proprietary ant killers of no use.
Boiling water (if they're just in the sand plunge), or a root drench with a standard insecticide works most of the time.
(I prefer to use insecticide, as generally the ants will be spread further afield than you think.).
Giles

[art600]

Giles

Can you recommend an insecticide please

[arisaema]

A Provado-drench should take care of it.

[Giles]

Yes, that's what I use too.

[art600]

Thank you both for your advice.  Let the killing commence....

[David Nicholson]

Arthur I think they use my garden for survival training! For those around plants I have had some success with proprietary ant killer in spray form, but, as I use so much of it I may have drowned them. For other areas, eg in the gravel on my patio, and in the duct where my water meter is located on the front path which I think they regard as the ant equivalent of the Grand Hotel I favour boiling water. I appear to cause my neighbours much enjoyment on my morning killing expeditions clad in pjs and dressing gown and clutching a boiling kettle. But it works!

[mark smyth]

  poor ants

[art600]

Mark
You obviously do not have them.  Their eggs are useful for feeding to fish, but what else?

[Lesley Cox]

poor ants

It's quick mark.

[Paul T]

I use something called "Ant Killer Dust" which is a bit like the white dust you use for killing cabbage moth etc on Brassicaciae (assuming you have that overseas).  One application kills off a nest generally, as it is carried back into the nest by workers and/or removing the dead bodies.  I don't like killing things, but snails, aphids and ants (usually only in connection with the aphid farming) are the exception.  If they're in a pot I just sink the pot above it's rim in a bucket of water as that will kill off the main nest.  Not fun, but necessary at times.  The other problem we occasionally have here is what we call "Sugar Ants" which are large orange ants with black heads.  They can form massive colonies a couple of metres across and do a lot of garden damage.  If they establish here I will apply the dust then to get rid of them before they get too big.  Sometimes a large colony needs two applications to eradicate.  In general the small black ants etc I don't worry about and leave to their own devices, unless they are actively moving and farming aphids etc which means they then end up in my sights.  They endanger my plants then they're endangered themselves!

If anyone is interested I can find the active ingredient in the ant killer dust for you to look into.  I have found it much better than any spray I have tried using, and it is pretty much always effective.

Pestering aside, ants don't bother me much at all.  Small nests in the garden don't do any harm, it is just when they start into a pot (which can dry out a plant very quickly, resulting in a quick death to the plant) or start farming.

[fermi de Sousa]

The problems we have with ants in the rock garden is that somethings that like them can rip apart the garden to get them!



These critters can move rocks bigger than they are! And they are very difficult to move on!
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Fermi,

Despite that major damage I'd rather those than the darn blackbirds!    Echidnas are just SO cool.  Never had one in my garden, nor likely to as we don't border on to bush.

[Otto Fauser]

Fermi,

Despite that major damage I'd rather those than the darn blackbirds!    Echidnas are just SO cool.  Never had one in my garden, nor likely to as we don't border on to bush.

Paul ,
Echidnas are NOT just so cool - hope you never find one in your garden , particular your new crocus bed. Had one in my bulbbeds a few years ago , a disaster ! As I tried to move him [or her ]on he burried himself deeper and deeper -mixing up and taking the bulbs with him down to a great depth .Took me several seasons to sort them out again .
       Otto.

[fermi de Sousa]

Fermi,

Despite that major damage I'd rather those than the darn blackbirds!    Echidnas are just SO cool.  Never had one in my garden, nor likely to as we don't border on to bush.

Paul,
if I could get enough bubble wrap I'd post you one!
cheers
fermi