How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Kentucky bluegrass, Fescue, Rye and Bent, etc
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dantis496
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How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by dantis496 » June 4th, 2020, 11:31 am

I have some spots in my mulch beds, along the edge near the lawn where small ant hills have formed. I don't want to do a blanket insecticide as not to kill all my earthworms. What do you guys use a spot spray or application? Thank you!

fun4me2
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by fun4me2 » June 4th, 2020, 6:46 pm

I had ant hills all over my lawn last year so I applied spectracide triazicide insect killer.
This year the hills are not in the lawn but on the edges of the lawn and edges of my gardens.
I had a little spectracide left over from last year so I filled an empty plastic spice bottle and shook a few prills down the center holes.
Knock on wood.....it's working so far.
Everytime I see another new hill, I've been doing the same thing.

TimmyG
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by TimmyG » June 5th, 2020, 12:14 am

Ants were out of control and laughing at D.E. this year, particularly in our raised vegetable beds, so my wife resorted to borax, sugar, and water in lids, and that seems to have done the trick in 24 hours.

pristinegreen75
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by pristinegreen75 » June 5th, 2020, 1:48 pm

Very humid,damp here today. Nothing to do (cut yesterday) -- I can understand despising ants in the veggie garden but I was under the impression ants feed on pests in the soil so wouldn't all those tunnels they make be good for loosening the soil as well in the yard? HMMMMM????? (told you I have nothing to do today LOL)

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MorpheusPA
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by MorpheusPA » June 5th, 2020, 8:08 pm

For the most part, yes. Unless ants are seriously in a bad spot, I'll ignore them, so basically right by the back door.
They perform a minor but important aeration function in the soil, and process whatever they eat into organic material.
I can understand not wanting them in the veggie garden, which sees a lot more habitation than my flower garden, though. I might get nipped a couple times when planting, but that's about it.
When they invade the house, that's the limit, however. Out come the Terro traps (sweetener in boric acid).


pristinegreen75
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by pristinegreen75 » June 6th, 2020, 10:30 am

Thanks Morph, the man in my mirror learned something!! I agree, Ortho Home Defense sprayed on all my entry door sills and bottom of garage door when they start getting close!

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PSU4ME
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by PSU4ME » June 7th, 2020, 3:02 pm

TimmyG wrote:
June 5th, 2020, 12:14 am
Ants were out of control and laughing at D.E. this year, particularly in our raised vegetable beds, so my wife resorted to borax, sugar, and water in lids, and that seems to have done the trick in 24 hours.
What form or borax are you using?

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MorpheusPA
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by MorpheusPA » June 7th, 2020, 3:20 pm

I can't answer for TimmyG, but I use boric acid with sweetener. When motivated, I mix it myself (boric acid plus sugar). When not motivated, I buy Terro traps, which are made that way, and the dogs don't have any interest in. There are no children who would interfere with these that visit the house (the youngest niece is now 11).

Per reports, borax does work, but takes much longer. I can neither confirm nor deny this as I've never tried it.

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nclawnguy
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by nclawnguy » June 8th, 2020, 5:57 pm

MorpheusPA wrote:
June 5th, 2020, 8:08 pm
For the most part, yes. Unless ants are seriously in a bad spot..
Or fire ants like I have. Terrible.

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MorpheusPA
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Re: How do I Kill off small Ants without Killing everything?

Post by MorpheusPA » June 8th, 2020, 6:58 pm

nclawnguy wrote:
June 8th, 2020, 5:57 pm
Or fire ants like I have. Terrible.
That goes without saying. Those need to be nuked from orbit just to be sure.

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