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Suggestions for ants in flower bed

AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259
in Problem solving

Good morning

I've read all the posts I can find on the forum regarding ants in flower bed. I know we have lots of ants on the lawn, but weeding a flower bed in front of the house I disturbed thousands of ants. On closer inspection I could see why some of the plants were failing to thrive and explained why we had an invasion line of ants from the front door to the lounge the previous day.

After reading forum posts I have looked at nematodes but they have very poor reviews from people who have tried them. I am going to try the cornmeal idea and maybe pour boiling water round the paving stones (sorry, I'm not usually so brutal but it was horrible having them in the house)

Should I did over the flower bed some more? I stopped as they were going crazy and I don't want them in the house.

Anyone had success with getting rid of ants in a flower bed?

Thanks in advance

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Posts

  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    TYPO - dig over the flower bed

  • DAN WILSONDAN WILSON Posts: 122

    I know it sounds obvious but I have had the same thing and ant powder worked wonders, it didn't affect the plants and kept the ant numbers down, I do regularly retreat. My grandfather used to use a small garden flame thrower for  paving as well as beds, and used to swear by it, clearly you need to raise the tem above what they can survive, which is quite a lot if insulated under a concrete slab! Sounds harsh I know but I have been plagued in the past! 

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 22,633

    I have had that problem before, especially in dry weather. Ant powder was the only thing that worked, but usually I don't use insecticides. Case of needs must!

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    Thanks everyone - I'll be shopping for ant powder

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,645

    Lots of ants means your beds are dry so try watering them and also mulching in autumn after heavy rains and when herbaceous stuff has died back.    This helps retain moisture.

    Another trick which is especially good for pots, edible fruits and veggies and compost heaps invaded by ants is to water on a solution of 5 litres of water mixed with one small bottle of essential oil of cloves (health shops and pharmacies) because they loathe the smell and move on.   Repeat as needed.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    Obelixx, I like this idea. I even have essential oil of cloves in the house as I used it to deter them when they came into the house. I didn't think of putting it on the garden 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,300

    I like the water and the oil of cloves idea better than killer chemicalsimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 22,633

    So do I. I haven't heard of that before, wonder if it really works.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,645

    Yes.  I've been posting that on these boards since the old Beeb days and it does work but doing it on a whole garden could get expensive so best kept for particular problem spots.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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