Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Belvoir on August 02, 2010, 09:09

Title: Ants
Post by: Belvoir on August 02, 2010, 09:09
Popped up my garden yesterday   and on my newly maderaised ed there were  LOADS  :ohmy: of Ants and they had dug some little holes  :mad: 

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?
Title: Re: Ants
Post by: evie2 on August 02, 2010, 15:21
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 :)
Title: Re: Ants
Post by: sloegin on August 03, 2010, 10:55
I used clove oil, did the trick
Title: Re: Ants
Post by: mrs bouquet on August 03, 2010, 21:46
Oh, you are so kind, I use boiling water, taking care not to water the plants with it. :ohmy:
regards,  Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Ants
Post by: moose on August 09, 2010, 19:45
Polenta mixed with a bit of icing sugar seems to work.
Title: Re: Ants
Post by: pigeonpie on August 14, 2010, 23:06
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 
Title: Re: Ants
Post by: arugula on August 15, 2010, 13:15
Quote from: moose on August 09, 2010, 19:45
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?  :lol:
Title: Re: Ants
Post by: evie2 on August 15, 2010, 21:35
That sounds interesting pigeonpie, I'll be interested to hear any feedback