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Ant nest in stipa

gatehillgatehill Posts: 38
in Problem solving

Inspection of my stipa gigantea has shown that the base is clogged with soil and ants. The "mound" through which the grass is growing is around 6-8" high.

Should I dig out the plant, spray, or what? 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Give it a good soaking with a few buckets of water, gatehill.

    They don't like wet conditions and that might be enough to send them on their way to somewhere less annoying for you!

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    Do not dig out your stipa. Get yourself some Westland Eraza Bait stations. Ants carry the stuff back to their nest and once the queen eats it and dies the whole colony dies out too. I mentioned this in a post several days back to someone else.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • gatehillgatehill Posts: 38

    Thanks, folks. I'll get the hose out and wash the nest and soil away. Hope the plant remains upright!

  • sybillesybille Posts: 76

    I always use baking powder to get rid of this little critters,

    it works, is not poisonous and doesn't harm the plant.

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