Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: old dave on August 23, 2016, 12:57

Title: ants - a nuisance?
Post by: old dave on August 23, 2016, 12:57

Hullo, can anyone advise me on getting rid of ant nests now established in the polytunnel in an humane organic way that's not going to poison the soil (or us)?
I've tried baking powder and coffee grinds to no great effect
Thank you

Title: Re: ants - a nuisance?
Post by: Beekissed on August 23, 2016, 13:08

Try setting out small containers of corn meal...we use lids or tuna cans.  It works wonders for the standard black ant that invades the home, so it may work for your ant type there as well.  They take it back to the nest and consume it and feed it to the young, but the corn is corrosive to their digestive systems and they all die from it.  Takes a few days from the time they find the corn to see the results but this works for us every year. 

Title: Re: ants - a nuisance?
Post by: AlaninCarlisle on August 23, 2016, 16:37

Isn't that being cruel to ants? I prefer the quick humane way with ant-killer poison :)

Title: Re: ants - a nuisance?
Post by: Beekissed on August 23, 2016, 17:03

Yes...because dying by poisoning is so very humane...   :nowink:   :lol:

Title: Re: ants - a nuisance?
Post by: 8doubles on August 23, 2016, 19:35

A couple of kettles of boiling water sorts shallow nests.

That or flood em out , they dont like it too wet !