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Red Ants

ianwithers61ianwithers61 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi. Has nobody wondered where all their ants have gone? Don't worry - they are all happily living in my garden!  Seriously though - has anyone any advise on permanently removing them? Ordinarily I would leave them and practise a bit of live and let live. However I have a large flower bed that it unworkable. Large nests every couple of feet (literally)
 Not sure if it's one giant nest the equivalent of an Ant London or several separate nest. I have them all over other places in the garden but I need to clear this bed in order to work and maintain it. Is powder and/or gel the only solution? Have tried pepper in water but no good. Thanks.
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @ianwithers61 I have had red ants in my lawn for years. I live next to a wood and I think that could perhaps be Ant Nottingham. Neighbour just told me she has 15 nests in he small front lawn. In answer to your question no. Treating them just means they move elsewhere.
    I have heard forum members mention nematodes something I haven't tried.Temperatures need to be right for nematodes too. Welcome
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited May 2023
    Black. They've gone into my porch. Not permitted. Dealt with - I hope.
     Red and black In the flower beds tolerated. No shortage here.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If ants start showing an interest in invading your home use this … it doesn’t harm them but they will move on. Marvellous stuff. 

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





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Don't like killing them but used the ant stop grains. Wish I'd known about that stuff.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've never seen the red ones. I don't think we get them here. Perhaps someone can offer info though - @wild edges, are you around?  :)
    The black ones are a bit more common - maybe more so on the east side as it's drier there. We get them now and again but they don't cause any problems -outside or in. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They have built a mound up against a valerian. It obviously got a bit wet for them recently.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I am not sure this is correct but do the red ones prefer to stay in lawns and borders. The black ones are the ones you can find in the house. @Fairygirl you don't want the red ones their bite can be nasty if you are someone who reacts to them.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Back home in coastal Lancashire in my childhood our lawn was infested with red ants.  They would gve a painful bite with no provocation.  Picnics were impossible.  They also camreinto the house and got at sweet stuff.

    Here in Surrey we get smaller brown ants that are no problem at all.  They came in the house once, but I think they were lost.
     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."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I found a site that covers types of ants up here @GardenerSuze, but there's no pix at present, and a lot of info to read! Most of the more unusual ones only seem to be found in pockets of Perthshire, and the mid to north east generally, rather than over on this side, although there seems to be a few exceptions. I'd have to spend a fair bit of time reading it all.
    If I had the correct name for those red ones, that would make it easier I expect. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Fairygirl Just looked at a site Ants of Nottinghamshire wiil take a proper look tomorrow. Nineteen different ones here one of which was discovered for the first time in 2020. It does seem there are many variations depending on where yoy are in the UK.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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