ANDRE'S REVENGE- 3/23 Bunny Declares War on Fire Ants

[Bunny Berry]

Well, over the weekend, I experienced my first organic gardening trauma, and was ATTACKED by red fire ants while I was replenishing the soil in my Square Foot Garden. Nature can be painful, people. And it can cause giant welts!

I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions for organic and natural ways to win the war against the fire ants. Meanwhile, I'll be soaking in a giant tub of oatmeal and lavender. Somebody hold me. Being a raw foodist can be dangerous.

[Sunday Foster]

OMG! I never knew those were that bad! Hope it goes away soon, and they find somewhere else to live!

[Lauren]

Hey Bunny! Sorry you were attacked, the nerve!!! We don't have fire ants up north so I don't have advice. Just feel better and "fight for your right to gaaaarrrden!!!" (that was sung in my best Beastie Boys voice)

[Abbie]

I'm so sorry you got attacked but I'm so grateful that you are declaring war because I've got 8+ mounds of red ants in my backyard and I have been wondering what to do myself. All of my neighbors use toxic chemicals and tell me not to worry when I mention that we all share the same well :-) I've been told corn starch or borax would work but that you have to dig in the hole to get it down in there. I admit to not wanting to do the digging in there part. Looking forward to hearing all the ideas!

[Meredith]

Yep, you're a theater major!

LOOK OUT, ants! Don't mess with the BunBun!

[Wave]

feed them some chili !... : ) actually lavender, neem oil or powder (Indian stores) and with some insects tea tree and lemongrass keep bugs away..Neen i know is awesome for that, if u can get the powder and mix it with water in sa spray bottle...

[Wendi Dee]

OMG that looks so painful. *hugs*

Honey, declaring war isn't going to do any good. You need to love them, let them know that you are using that space and they need to find a new place to live. WAR doesn't help anyone. :-P

*Flies around carrying a banner that says, Save the Fire Ants. Fire Ants need love, too!*

Seriously, it's going to stress you out if you feel like you are in a war against them. What I've done and had success with is to go to the bed every day, loosening the soil and disturbing their home. After a week, or so, they aren't there anymore. I think it's the loose, rich soil that they love so much--but they definitely don't like it when they are disturbed. Just keep telling them that this is your special area and you'd really like them to find a new place because you are claiming this one for yourself. :-)

*hugs* You'll need gloves, of course, until they are gone.

[Barefoot Artist]

LOL Your tags are so funny! I HATE fire ants and I am so allergic to them because I stepped in a bed once and was viciously attacked. I'm so sorry about your ordeal with them and when you find what works please let me know!
XXX's on your boo boos

[Priss Pristofferson]

The google tells us: chalk or diatomaceous earth in a line around the garden may help. The ants will not want to cross it. I think rain would wash this away and you would need to replace it often. I also found a suggestion to add worm castings to your soil. The theory is that it will make either the soil or the plants taste bad to ants. This makes sense, because the worms haven't all been eaten by ants.

I look forward to the next skirmish, and may you be victorious in your fight.

[rhonn1]

Yep, those fire ants love the fluffy soil.

It was a sneak attack ... that's why they are so tiny ... so they can be sneaky. The communicate telepathically (it might be that they release hormones to communicate), but they all bite at the same time ... OWWW!

Now, about the owieness that lasts for days afterwards ... there really is a Windex trick. Right after being bit, spray the still open bites with Windex, because getting ammonia onto the bites neutralizes the formic acid, which is what causes the welts.

{I've made my living outdoors for 20 years, and I have LOADS of experience with fireants.}

I'm sorry that I forgot to tweet you about the ammonia ... today would have been more pleasant for you if I had.

If you are going to try the boiling water, try it before the soil is all full of roots, because it will injure the plant roots. If you run a sprinkler on the bed long enough to get it good and soaked, you might push them to bring their mound up into visibility, because they'll need to keep themselves dry. Then you'll know where you need to treat.

Good Luck.

[Nikki]

Fire ants are mean! They left me with hard burning itching welts for a week. I hope you find a way to ease the pain and encourage the little stingers to find a new home.

[Earth Mother]

Kisses on your boo boos Bun-Bun.

I've gotta echo Wendi Dee on this one. Declaring WAR is not the answer. Ever.

Find a way to peacefully co-exist in nature. Ask the ants to please leave your space and find somewhere else to live.

I used to live in a tipi (yeah, not a yurt, but thought you'd get a kick out of it). I had a friend ask if she could "tipi sit" while I was away for a week. When I returned, she was traumatized by all the "visitors" she had — a family of mice, a squirrel, a bat, a bird, a snake — and wondered "How the heck can you stand living in here?" I explained that when I first moved in, I declared it my sacred space and asked all critters to respect my space and stay outside. Never had any unwelcome guests in the 12 months I lived there. Even the ants stayed outside the tipi.

Wendi Dee said:

OMG that looks so painful. *hugs*

Honey, declaring war isn't going to do any good. You need to love them, let them know that you are using that space and they need to find a new place to live. WAR doesn't help anyone. :-P

*Flies around carrying a banner that says, Save the Fire Ants. Fire Ants need love, too!*

Seriously, it's going to stress you out if you feel like you are in a war against them. What I've done and had success with is to go to the bed every day, loosening the soil and disturbing their home. After a week, or so, they aren't there anymore. I think it's the loose, rich soil that they love so much--but they definitely don't like it when they are disturbed. Just keep telling them that this is your special area and you'd really like them to find a new place because you are claiming this one for yourself. :-)

*hugs* You'll need gloves, of course, until they are gone.

[Sheila Murrey]

someone told me pour club soda directly into the ant hill... but I don't know. We do have them around our neighborhood but so far (knock on something) we don't have them in our yard... I am growing some things now, but in containers on the back porch. Mostly I am just getting pretty good at sprouting. In my safe ant free kitchen. :)
You're so brave Bunny!