Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Brambles on June 25, 2011, 22:16

Title: Ants
Post by: Brambles on June 25, 2011, 22:16

I have just pulled up a couple of 'finished' rows of broad beans and I would like to add compost and rotted chicken manure to plant some squash plants in their place.   As I pulled them up, I found a massive ants "Town" underneath!   I dug the area and walked on it to stablize the ground as it was a mass of tunnels and the soil was really loose.
I am hoping to put my squash in tomorrow...  Please can anyone advise as to whether the ground will be ok for the squash, or is there something I should be doing to move the ants on to another area (hopefully the compost heap!)   

Title: Re: Ants
Post by: Trillium on June 25, 2011, 23:30

the only thing I've found that really deters them is to keep cultivating their nest for a while. Eventually they'll move on. So, put off planting the squash as long as possible until you don't see them about. Might take a few days.

Title: Re: Ants
Post by: Brambles on June 25, 2011, 23:34

Thank you Trillium... will leave it a few days (maybe next weekend).. will make them unwelcome until then and see how it goes.   I will just keep digging in lots of 'nice' stuff which will not be such a waste of time... that will also make it perfect for squash :D