Getting rid of red ants in garden

jbondo

Hi All,

So we have red ants all over the garden, we initially dug out the affected areas to remove the nests etc, filled them in with new compost and started growing new grass. But we've discovered that they're all over the garden. I've started digging up the garden as we're going to put new grass down etc and keep finding nests etc. How can we get rid of them totally, with red ants in the garden we simply would not be able to enjoy it.

I've looked onto and got a mixture of sugar water and borax, put some cotton wall balls in it and dotted them near the nests. Also mixed sugar and borax too to try and get rid of them. Is there anything else I can do?

Davesnave

jbondo said:

Hi All,

So we have red ants all over the garden. How can we get rid of them totally, with red ants in the garden we simply would not be able to enjoy it.

I don't think it's feasible to eliminate ants if your garden is large. Even if you have a postage stamp garden on a modern estate, your neighbours will be harbouring them and new queens will come in to replace the ones you destroy, so control methods will be a constant task.

It would be better to create an area for sitting which the ants find less attractive. For example, that means avoiding surfaces like paving slabs with gaps between under which ants might live.

Hmmmm. It's certainly something to investigate, but surely not too hard for the dominant species?

Apodemus

My observation from gardening in a wet climate, is that ants won’t nest in damp conditions.  This is why they like to be under hard surfaces, like pots or paving slabs.  Perhaps you can do something to make the essential parts of your garden wetter?

jbondo

Our garden is not that big, probably 4.4M Width x 7M Length (Grass covered). We've been digging small sections in weeks so we can prepare the ground for new turf etc.

Perhaps with the unsettled weather we've been having, if we were to continue to dig up the rest of the garden and if it rains, hopefully the ants will do one!

We could always water the ground if need be to 'flood' them out.

Apodemus

Perhaps you need to get one of these guys, to dig the garden for you!

twopenny

So cute! I want one.

I've not long moved to a property where the whole area has an ant problem. It's taken time using ant bait to take back to the queens to make it better. But getting rid of them altogether would require everyone around to work on it and some aren't bothered.

For seating I've used liner and gravel in the seating areas with a fancy surround. There are none in those spots now.

There are less ants where I've persevered but this needs doing each year. They live in gardens so not sure you can erradicate them entirely. Just move them on to another part. Though I haven't noticed them damage any part of the lawn or beds. If anything they improve the soil quality by making it finer.

jbondo

If only!

Been digging up more of the garden today, finding more red/black ant nests and their eggs so they have been disposed off. A lot of cultivating and raking to unsettle and agitate the ants too hoping they'll move on!

Farway

And to chuck another problem in for you, it'll soon be flying ant day, the weather is getting humid so maybe soon.

I'd wait until after that, new lot of queens will be flying in next month

https://www.mirror.co.uk/science/what-flying-ant-day-2019-10742632

jbondo

Farway said:

And to chuck another problem in for you, it'll soon be flying ant day, the weather is getting humid so maybe soon.

I'd wait until after that, new lot of queens will be flying in next month

https://www.mirror.co.uk/science/what-flying-ant-day-2019-10742632

Yeaaahhhhh found that out today! half the garden is already dug up so not much we can do about that

Davesnave

Look on the bright side; they could be wood ants. Now those really can give a nasty bite!

I used to take school parties to the posher parts of Dorset, where I'd say to the kids, "Now listen, leave the big wood ants alone, because they'll bite you and it hurts!"

Of course there would  be some child wailing within about 10 minutes.....Great, teaching by first hand experience, you'd think, but it wasn't usually until around the fourth one had wailed that the message finally sank in!

25_Years_On

jbondo said:

How can we get rid of them totally

You can't and you shouldn't.