Angels4 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I LOVE my new place, but I'm feeling as though I'm living in the middle of an ant farm. Does anybody have any suggestions in regards to a green alternative to all the chemicals generally used, do you think DE sprinkled around the cottage and worked into the soil will be okay for the outside. What might I try on the inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 there's a school of thought that says if you just ask them to leave then they will but I think those plug in things are really good, they emit some sort of sonic pulse thru the walls and the ants don't like it. Not sure how much electricity they use though so maybe not as green as you'd like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Hmmm I've asked them to leave, but I don't think they have taken me seriously. I think it's time for the big guns. I never thought of the electronic devices for ants, I thought they were just for mice and other vermin. I've found one which works for "just pennies a day". I think I'll be given this a try. Thanks Poet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Did you say please ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 I did. I begged and pleaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Try using a potato peeler and peeling strips of cucumber and popping them around the place/on the nests. Sprigs of rosemary are also said to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 you're welcome, mum had a problem with flying ants last year so she got a cple of these and they did the trick! Better than killing them, just persuade them to leave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 I got a little frightened yesterday when I was speaking to the gardener. I told about the ants and he got a look on his face like Tim "The Toolman" Taylor and I knew instanley he was thinking of going to the extreme with chemicals....I had to draw him back and remind him the girls would be arriving Sunday 3/5/09 and that I would take care of the ant situation. Thanks Christian as well, I've heard about the cucumber as well and will try that. I've also read that mixing equal parts vinegar and water and spraying the kitchen cupboards and counters will help. I'm suprised I have ants. There are two types of them and obviously from differnt nests, I thought I read once that they would attack and kill each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 We have ants in our garden, and I usually try (really try) to ignore them but I have occasionally resorted to pouring boiling water onto the nest. It does kill the grass as well though If they come in the house I found the best stuff is Nippon gel. Put a blob on a penny and leave in their path and within 48 hours no more ants! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I've had the little darlings traipsing in my front windows, I found a sprinkling of talcum powder where ever they come in stops them. Don't know how or why, it just does! I used normal baby powder, much nicer than nasty chemical stuff. Looks a bit like white mould, but I tend to leave it there as a preventative . Good luck with the new girls Mark, you put the date round the right way for us to understand !! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Good luck with the new girls Mark, you put the date round the right way for us to understand !! Sha x I've started writing the dates like that at work as well..........people here will see the date 12/5/09 and say " That hasn't happened yet........ " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Someone once told me to try chilli powder sprinkled across their routes into the house. I suppose it might be like a cross betwen the talcum powder idea and an unpleasant sensation. I haven't tried it yet - they haven't been a problem for a few years (maybe they know what I'm thinking of?) Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 there's a school of thought that says if you just ask them to leave then they will but I think those plug in things are really good, they emit some sort of sonic pulse thru the walls and the ants don't like it. Not sure how much electricity they use though so maybe not as green as you'd like. Do you have cats? I tried the plug-in sonic thingys and my cats went demented so we had to throw them away( the thingys). We have had an awful ant problem for several years with no solution. Tried them all! Currently in process of redoing kitchen and have stripped everything away hoping it might help. Would post pics but I think you might all get a fright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Read with interest as I have ants invading the greenhouse the cats use as their day-room and was trying to come up with something to persuade them to go away without upsetting the moggies. Usually they are in the other greenhouse and I don't mind them there as they don't exactly eat many strawberries, but I don't want them all over the cat food or in my furry darlings' beds . I'll try asking them to leave nicely and maybe sprinkle some diatom to help them make up their minds ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I don't beg them to leave or even say please. A firm hand-that's what they need!! I bend down and tell them that they cannot stay here. I say that they must go. I then say thank you and walk away. 9 times out of 10 this has worked for me. There was one occassion however when only half left so I told the rest that they were not welcome to stay and had to leave immediately. They were all gone by the following day. Mad? Me? Not at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 The flying ones started swarming yesterday whilst we had guests. Yuck - it was horrid. We found a crack that seemed to be the outlet and I poured boiling water down it. I really really don't like them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Yes that was the night before that little thunderstorm - they know and take to the air. Poor Mark, I have visions of the gardener giving you tips and you'll be in the garden yelling "what time is it? Dead Ant Time?" It just might frighten them off! We get a lot of green woodpeckers in the front garden and they do a cracking job of polishing a fair few ants off. The girls in the back have been digging for the ants here - even tolerating the bites on their legs - running away, then coming back for more. We seem to have had a bumper crop of ants this year though, even with all the winged helpers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...