A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 Ants!

I've got my garden all tilled up and recently covered it with black plastic. It's not the very thick, shiny black plastic, but thin. It's water proof, too.
When I tilled up the bed, I did hit an ant bed but I thought they'd move on after the plastic went on...well they havent't! They're happy as can be and flourishing under it! Should I just leave them be and hope they'll move along or do I need to go ahead and put down some poison? And what kind of insecticide do you put down? Will the ants actually ruin my veggie garden? I don't plan on planting for another three weeks.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks,
JoAnn

Agnus--I see you are in Texas. Good chance you have the same problem I do--fire ants. I hate those little beggars and they do ruin growing things. I've even had them kill young trees I've tried to get started on my place A friend of mine who owns a nursery recommended a type of poison that doesn't harm your plants and since you don't have any food items growing in your garden yet, it should be safe to use. It's:

Surrender Brand Fire Ant Killer
75% acephate
1 lb. can that treats up to 108 mounds

It only takes a teaspoon applied to the center of the mound early in the morning when they are beginning to get active. It has worked real well for me. I use it in my flowerbeds too and it doesn't kill the flowers. The biggest drawback to it is that it smells awful

Thanks MLN!
I'll be on the lookout for that poison!

Here's another source:

Do-it-Yourself Pest Control Products for the Homeowner

http://www.diypesticides.com/