[Belvoir]

Popped up my garden yesterday   and on my newly maderaised ed there were  LOADS  of Ants and they had dug some little holes   

I had put in some ettuce seeds and covered them with a cloche to keep the dog/cats off!

What shall I do?   they can't be seen today... will I re-seed?

[evie2]

We used pure essential oil of Peppermint in the house and round the pond, ants hate it.  Also where we have it growing in the garden we don't have ants but it has to be pure essential oil and don't get it on your skin

[sloegin]

I used clove oil, did the trick

[mrs bouquet]

Oh, you are so kind, I use boiling water, taking care not to water the plants with it.
regards,  Mrs Bouquet

[moose]

Polenta mixed with a bit of icing sugar seems to work.

[pigeonpie]

I try to respect and live alongside all animals but ants do seem a tad too annoying at times.  I have a green woodpecker who helps out and the chickens love to eat any ant eggs that we find but I am seriously considering buying an aardvark.  Boiling water does seem to slow them down a little and ant powder might help but nothing ever seems to eradicate the little blighters, they just seem to move to a different area of the garden and breed even more.   
I have read about some nematodes that you water on and they infect the ants and help to control the population but have no experince of if they work.  I'd be interested to hear if anyone has tried them.

http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/product.html?product_id=948&-session=shopper:519CDFBD13e0238567GrN184CD09 

[arugula]

Polenta mixed with a bit of icing sugar seems to work.

What does this do? Do they eat it and get lethargic or run away from it? 

[evie2]

That sounds interesting pigeonpie, I'll be interested to hear any feedback