Vegetable Garden Safe Insecticide for Ants
Garden ants are a nuisance. Fortunately, natural pest control methods, including organic insecticides, are readily available. USDA organic-approved pesticides are potent and considered to be less toxic to humans. Does this Spark an idea?
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Boric Acid
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According to "Organic Gardening," a boric acid ant trap is made, "by thoroughly dissolving 1 teaspoon of boric acid and 6 tablespoons of sugar in 2 cups of water." Weekly, solution-soaked cotton balls are put in lidded plastic containers with ant-sized holes.
Diatomaceous Earth
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Diatomaceous earth kills ants through dehydration. This can be placed near hills, but outdoor ants may avoid it.
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"Texas Organic Two-Step"
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Dr. Bastiaan "Bart" Drees of the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research Center says that this is "the least-toxic, most cost-effective way to eliminate fire ants." It kills ants for up to a year. First, in autumn, spinosad bait is left out for the ants. Next, mounds are treated with d-limonene.
Bucketing Ant Colonies
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Ant mounds are dug up with about a foot of soil from beneath them and dumped into large buckets. The ants are drowned in a dish soap and water mixture or dumped elsewhere.
Predatory Birds
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Many birds eat ants; a garden can become a bird attraction, perhaps by setting up a birdbath. If you raise poultry, consider letting them run free range.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Leafcutter Ants - The Lettuce image by Daniel Mortell from Fotolia.com
