How to keep ants off the bird table

Mike160304

The bird table is about 5 foot high and the stem, in one section, is single and square, around 2.5" (62mm) square, so that may be the best area to apply a deterrent, but what?

Not Des O'Connor CDs, presumably?

Yes, I know they do little harm, but they can do it somewhere else.  

Mike

waterbutts

Ants can't swim so could you put it in a bucket?

Obelixx

Try smearing the post with essential oil of cloves, available from pharmacies and health shops.  They can't stand the smell and won't climb up any more.

Mike160304

waterbutts wrote (see)

Ants can't swim so could you put it in a bucket?

LOL. Yes, or I could flood the garden so that the bird table is standing in water.

Mike

Mike160304

obelixx wrote (see)

Try smearing the post with essential oil of cloves, available from pharmacies and health shops.  They can't stand the smell and won't climb up any more.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

Mike

Heliotrope

Neem oil also deters ants.  I've had a few wandering indoors to forage so have used it to keep them out.

Mike160304

I tried wrapping 2" brown packaging tape round the stem, sticky side out.  An ant managed to cross it, just.  Then another.

Then I wrapped 2" duct tape (Duck Tape?) round the stem, sticky side out.

Ants tapped it with one foot and turned back.  I've only seen one ant (there's always a nutter, isn't there?) succeed in crossing it.  Most of them have given up.

I guess it'll lose its "stick" in a few days, and I'll have to replace it.  Do they still sell "fly paper"?  I'll look it up.

Mike