A few clouds. Low 42F. Winds light and variable..
A few clouds. Low 42F. Winds light and variable.
A few clouds. Low 41F. Winds light and variable..
A few clouds. Low 41F. Winds light and variable.
The pros and cons of ants. Gardeners usually consider ants to be pests, and it’s true that ants can loosen the soil around young plants, causing them to die. Some species shelter and protect aphids so they can feed on the aphids’ sweet honeydew. On the positive side, ants can improve air circulation in heavy soils, and their burrows improve water drainage.
Give ants an eviction notice by mixing equal parts of water and white vinegar and spraying anthills and around areas where you see ants. They hate the smell of vinegar, and it won’t take long for them to move on. Keep the spray bottle handy for outdoor trips and to keep ants away from picnic or play areas.
Scatter talcum powder liberally around house foundations and known points of ant entry. Other effective organic repellents include cream of tartar, borax, powdered sulfur, and oil of cloves. Plant mint around the foundation of your house. Besides keeping ants away, the mint leaves can be brewed into delicious caffeine free tea.
A mash of hot chiles and water will keep ants away. You can make repellent by pureeing a few orange peels and a cup of warm water in the blender. Pour it directly into an anthill early in the morning.
Boric acid mixed with sugar is an effective ant poison but only in gardens with no children or pets. Spread it on a piece of weed or stone near the nest, then cover it to protect it from rain. The foraging ants will love it and take some back to their nests.
To get rid of a colony, first plug the drainage hole of a large flowerpot with a cork or tightly wadded plastic wrap., then place the pot upside down over the anthill. Heat a teakettle of water to boiling and flood the surrounding soil. While you heat a second kettle of water, ants will seek shelter in the overturned pot. Quickly turn it upright and fill it with boiling water.
Create an ant barrier around plants, on front steps, and between rows with a sprinkling of agricultural lime, bonemeal, or powdered charcoal.
If ants are swarming your garden path, add 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper or any other strong-smelling ground spice, such as cloves or dry mustard to 1 cup of sifted white flour and sprinkle the mixture on and around the pests, they will vanish within the hour, sweep the dry mix into the garden or yard instead of trying to hose it off; water will just make it gooey.
Here is a fool proof way to stop ants trying to get on a picnic table. Set the bottom of each table leg into a plastic container and fill the containers with water. The ants won’t be able to crawl past the wet barrier.
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