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Red ants galore!

sunderlandhsunderlandh Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Looking for some help!! 

We recently moved to a house with an amazing garden extending just over half an acre. 

Unfortunately we seem to have a major problem of red ants, they are everywhere. We have young children who are constantly getting nipped by the ants and we ourselves are finding them bothering us when we are doing the garden.

Does anyone have any useful tips on how to eradicate them?

thanks!!

Posts

  • RoddersUKRoddersUK Posts: 537
    Well I don't think you can ever get rid of ants, there's so many.
    I just chuck powder down, I guess it kills enough they moves on.
    Until they come back again.....lol
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2021
    There are ant-specific nematodes that you can buy online and water onto the lawn. They make the ants uncomfortable and they move elsewhere, but are not harmed. 

    I wouldn’t use ant powder, especially around places where children play. Most insecticides are neurotoxins aren’t they?  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    Small birds will eat ants so providing some habitat for them to nest safely in bird boxes, thorny shrubs and hedge plants, providing water for them with a bird bath or pond and alternative food sources like shrubs with small edible berries could help improve your population of birds and thus limit the number of ants. Other predators may also limit ant populations so encouraging other types of wildlife in the garden with so called bug hotel type constructions might help. I don't think eradicating ants completely is possible.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited August 2021
    When I was young and lived in Southport, we had red ants, you couldn't sit on the lawn.  Vicious!  Nothing you can do.

    Here in Surrey, we have black ants, they can be a nuisance when they swarm or when they heap their diggings on the lawn, or when they come into the house.  But otherwise no problems.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited August 2021
    I'm new to these forums and still learning.  Whilst I'm learning my posts may be more experimental than helpful.  Sorry.
    The posts I find are a bit random.  And how to I get my location "Surrey" placed after my pen-name?  I think place is very relevant.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • lindylou54lindylou54 Posts: 23
    Hit the round cog at the top of page and edit profile

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    bédé said:
    I'm new to these forums and still learning.  Whilst I'm learning my posts may be more experimental than helpful.  Sorry.
    The posts I find are a bit random.  And how to I get my location "Surrey" placed after my pen-name?  I think place is very relevant.
    There are various categories for posts - they should cover most of what you want to post whether asking for or offering advice/info.
    If you are unsure where your post should be, chose the nearest category and make your thread title as specific as possible.
    Usually someone will pick it up.
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