ANTS

[debidoos]

How do I stop ants eating my radishes???

[sweetleaf]

Thats a new one on me Debi are you sure its ants? Slugs maybe, but I never heard of ants eating them. Ants occasionally eat seeds I have heard and farm aphids quite a lot , but Radishes

[debidoos]

It was definately ants. We caught them in the act!!

I was wondering if there was a way of stopping them as quite a few of the radishes had bites out of them.

[4pygmies]

Oh no! Now the ants are attacking too! The only thing I can suggest is that you try and sweep them away from your plants - you can't use any of the usual ant deterrants or you'll destroy your radishes too. Is there a nest anywhere you can find? If so dig it out and deposit it somewhere far far away........

[madonplants]

Ant's diet.
Could clove oil work 4P? I have never used it myself, but like you said, find the nest(s) and get rid, is probably the best course of action you, Debidoos.

Keith

[debidoos]

It's difficult to tell where the nest is, it's on the allotment.

[sweetleaf]

I think you have perhaps planted your Radishes on top of it Debi, It might be worth sowing some more elsewhere and digging them out?

[The witch]

Have a look at this link debidoos

www.killsbugsdead.com/raid/

[debbiem]

What about luring them away with something sugary? Or would that then bring on the wasps!

[Sleepy]

Or tiny little signs next to the radishes saying 'Warning, these radishes have been sprayed with insecticide'

[debbiem]

I can't help thinking of the ants on Tom and Jerry carrying off all the radishes in military formation.

[debidoos]

Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum!

[madonplants]

I seemed to have had an explosion of ants this year, am I the only one? I don't mean the odd nest either. Where I want to plant my sunflower, the teasels are all covered with the tiny bu**gers, all around the pond I must have about ten nests. I'm convinced I have ants in the pot of my potted magnolia, which I think is going to the great nursery in the sky! I don't want to use powder, but have been known to use the odd kettle of boiling water! I need some green woodpeckers, don't I? Anyone got an anteater, I could borry for a week?

[Sleepy]

Jun 17, 2008 11:00:37 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

I seemed to have had an explosion of ants this year, am I the only one? I don't mean the odd nest either. Where I want to plant my sunflower, the teasels are all covered with the tiny bu**gers, all around the pond I must have about ten nests. I'm convinced I have ants in the pot of my potted magnolia, which I think is going to the great nursery in the sky! I don't want to use powder, but have been known to use the odd kettle of boiling water! I need some green woodpeckers, don't I? Anyone got an anteater, I could borry for a week?

Are you sure they are ants? Have you detected your adopted hatchling communicating in any way with them? Is it possible you have a massing extraterrestrial invasion fleet in your garden intent on taking over the world?

[madonplants]

Jun 17, 2008 11:03:57 GMT 1 Sleepy said:

Jun 17, 2008 11:00:37 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

I seemed to have had an explosion of ants this year, am I the only one? I don't mean the odd nest either. Where I want to plant my sunflower, the teasels are all covered with the tiny bu**gers, all around the pond I must have about ten nests. I'm convinced I have ants in the pot of my potted magnolia, which I think is going to the great nursery in the sky! I don't want to use powder, but have been known to use the odd kettle of boiling water! I need some green woodpeckers, don't I? Anyone got an anteater, I could borry for a week?

Are you sure they are ants? Have you detected your adopted hatchling communicating in any way with them? Is it possible you have a massing extraterrestrial invasion fleet in your garden intent on taking over the world?

Just ants and they can bite too! Did you notice my arms on Saturday?

[Sleepy]

Jun 17, 2008 11:05:29 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

Jun 17, 2008 11:03:57 GMT 1 Sleepy said:

Are you sure they are ants? Have you detected your adopted hatchling communicating in any way with them? Is it possible you have a massing extraterrestrial invasion fleet in your garden intent on taking over the world?

Just ants and they can bite too! Did you notice my arms on Saturday?

I did spend a lot of time gazing at your arms keith - I couldn't take my eyes off them. Lovely arms. I remember saying so to Sweetie. Didn't notice any bites though.

[madonplants]

Jun 17, 2008 11:10:42 GMT 1 Sleepy said:

Jun 17, 2008 11:05:29 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

Just ants and they can bite too! Did you notice my arms on Saturday?

I did spend a lot of time gazing at your arms keith - I couldn't take my eyes off them. Lovely arms. I remember saying so to Sweetie. Didn't notice any bites though.

Are you sure you are only taking the right dose of that linctus, Sleepy?!

[debbiem]

There's only one easy and surefire way to get rid of them Keith - get some chickens! They'll clear them in one foul swoop..... ;D

A gruesome but fascinating sight was watching my hens clear a red ants' nest the other day........

[madonplants]

Jun 17, 2008 22:23:16 GMT 1 @The witch said:

Lots of ant nests all over my garden too, in the borders and the lawn!

You need some Nippon Keith - the queen ant needs to be killed, boiling water will only kill a few worker ants.

www.vitax.co.uk/productshome.asp?product=HPC012

Trouble is The witch, unless they are in the house, I don't want to use chemicals, I felt bad using that wasp foam last year, but the kids were at risk so had to. If you dig the hole out a bit, you will get the queen!! Does mess your lawn up a bit though, for a while and you have to make sure no ants are climbing up your trowel while digging it out!

Had a quick look and you do get a 'sort of' biological control, might think about giving that a go, just near the pond so I can get on with things!

www.just-green.com/ProductDetails/mcs/ProductID/1154/GroupID/69/CategoryID/977/v/bf9ff111-8ce3-4091-8148-3e1cd9a8a496

[Sleepy]

Jun 18, 2008 9:54:46 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

Jun 17, 2008 22:23:16 GMT 1 @The witch said:

Lots of ant nests all over my garden too, in the borders and the lawn!

You need some Nippon Keith - the queen ant needs to be killed, boiling water will only kill a few worker ants.

www.vitax.co.uk/productshome.asp?product=HPC012

Trouble is The witch, unless they are in the house, I don't want to use chemicals, I felt bad using that wasp foam last year, but the kids were at risk so had to. If you dig the hole out a bit, you will get the queen!! Does mess your lawn up a bit though, for a while and you have to make sure no ants are climbing up your trowel while digging it out!

Had a quick look and you do get a 'sort of' biological control, might think about giving that a go, just near the pond so I can get on with things!

www.just-green.com/ProductDetails/mcs/ProductID/1154/GroupID/69/CategoryID/977/v/bf9ff111-8ce3-4091-8148-3e1cd9a8a496

The kids were not at risk. You were simply in a murderous mood that day. With a little bit of education a wasps nest is harmless.

[Sleepy]

Jun 18, 2008 9:54:46 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

Jun 17, 2008 22:23:16 GMT 1 @The witch said:

Lots of ant nests all over my garden too, in the borders and the lawn!

You need some Nippon Keith - the queen ant needs to be killed, boiling water will only kill a few worker ants.

www.vitax.co.uk/productshome.asp?product=HPC012

Trouble is The witch, unless they are in the house, I don't want to use chemicals, I felt bad using that wasp foam last year, but the kids were at risk so had to. If you dig the hole out a bit, you will get the queen!! Does mess your lawn up a bit though, for a while and you have to make sure no ants are climbing up your trowel while digging it out!

Had a quick look and you do get a 'sort of' biological control, might think about giving that a go, just near the pond so I can get on with things!

www.just-green.com/ProductDetails/mcs/ProductID/1154/GroupID/69/CategoryID/977/v/bf9ff111-8ce3-4091-8148-3e1cd9a8a496

Ants are pretty harmless too.

[madonplants]

Jun 18, 2008 9:57:39 GMT 1 Sleepy said:

Jun 18, 2008 9:54:46 GMT 1 @madonplants said:

Trouble is The witch, unless they are in the house, I don't want to use chemicals, I felt bad using that wasp foam last year, but the kids were at risk so had to. If you dig the hole out a bit, you will get the queen!! Does mess your lawn up a bit though, for a while and you have to make sure no ants are climbing up your trowel while digging it out!

Had a quick look and you do get a 'sort of' biological control, might think about giving that a go, just near the pond so I can get on with things!

www.just-green.com/ProductDetails/mcs/ProductID/1154/GroupID/69/CategoryID/977/v/bf9ff111-8ce3-4091-8148-3e1cd9a8a496

The kids were not at risk. You were simply in a murderous mood that day. With a little bit of education a wasps nest is harmless.

They were, these wasps were devils, they wouldn't allow me to get within 78 feet from the nest without dive bombing me. Stephen plays near them, as do the two young girls from next door. Come on, you know the story, don't need to repeat myself, do I? Memory gone already?

[debidoos]

Emsey and myself have had a fair few ants on the lottie this year.

We've found the Weed wand (long handled blowtorch) works wonders!

[4pygmies]

When we broke down the garden everything was infested with ants...it wasn't very much fun as they were crawling all over us. I suppose the blessed weather in Brum makes them a bit of a problem up there. I get them in the PT a lot in the summer. I usually try and keep their nest disturbed so they will give up and go away. I would never use a chemical though..I've heard that talcum powder sprinkled around the nest works though.

[emseypop]

Jun 18, 2008 17:27:11 GMT 1 @4pygmies said:

When we broke down the garden everything was infested with ants...it wasn't very much fun as they were crawling all over us. I suppose the blessed weather in Brum makes them a bit of a problem up there. I get them in the PT a lot in the summer. I usually try and keep their nest disturbed so they will give up and go away. I would never use a chemical though..I've heard that talcum powder sprinkled around the nest works though.

Any powder works (well maybe not icing sugar ;D ) But I've put talc and washing powder on them in the past.