how to get rid of ants!

Brie

yet again a couple of my large plant pots have ants nests in them.  I started to prep one to put some seedlings in yesterday and uncovered a huge nest in one with hundreds of ants and ant pods (whatever you call them).  

Last year I got a young chap to over turn a stone planter to empty out the soil and I poured in boiling water to get rid of any residual ants.  (yes, cruel I guess).  I didn't know if I could do something similar this time with just pouring boiling water over the soil as the one planter is too heavy for me to up end.  

or what is an alternative?  preferably not too chemical due to the number of birds/foxes/cats in the vicinity.

Farway

You could use boiling water, but you'd need a lot

Or try one of the ant bait traps, where you put a few drops onto a flat, non-porous, thing and the ants take the poison back to the nest & kill them off

You can hide the poison trap from animals using something like a broken plant pot, or just one on it's side

One well known & readily available is Nippon

Just search using 

ant killer outdoor uk

twopenny

Raise the pots on pot feet.
Or cheaper, stones, block pavers or whatever. Even a small gap and the ants won't nest there.
Also making sure the pots are regularly watered and it goes at least 2/3 down will keep them out.

I use the hard ant traps and once bought I use a tube of Nippon liquid (available from a well known online retailer) to refill. It's better than the original stuff. I've had the same traps for several years.

  A neighbour used to put them, or other stuff, under a small upturned clay pot just raise on one side with a stone so the wildlife didn't get at it but it wasn't as effective as the traps.

We're over run where I live. Around July the birds start eating them and then they grow wings and all fly on 2  humid nights and it's not so much of a problem.
When you see them grow wings the next thing is you'll notice seagulls circling for a day or two waiting for their feast.

Brie

twopenny said:

Raise the pots on pot feet.
Or cheaper, stones, block pavers or whatever. Even a small gap and the ants won't nest there.
Also making sure the pots are regularly watered and it goes at least 2/3 down will keep them out.

I use the hard ant traps and once bought I use a tube of Nippon liquid (available from a well known online retailer) to refill. It's better than the original stuff. I've had the same traps for several years.

  A neighbour used to put them, or other stuff, under a small upturned clay pot just raise on one side with a stone so the wildlife didn't get at it but it wasn't as effective as the traps.

We're over run where I live. Around July the birds start eating them and then they grow wings and all fly on 2  humid nights and it's not so much of a problem.
When you see them grow wings the next thing is you'll notice seagulls circling for a day or two waiting for their feast.

obviously poison should kill them but what about the ones that don't die?  I don't want to poison the birds.

will see about raising the pots up a bit

twopenny

This is how it works 
https://www.pestid.co.uk/blog/preventing-ant-infestation-uk-info/
I've loads of birds in the garden and roaming cats around. This doesn't seem to affect them.
 Because the ants will feed in a covered place and return with the 'food,,'
 

-taff

I second raising and throughly soaking, you could also if you can stick something long and thin in there and wiggle it about but the first two should sort them out and encourage them to go elsewhere..

twopenny

Just remembered reading that Jeyes fluid if sprayed in areas will see them off.
I put some down the kitchen drain and they've left the area around.
Birds and animals won't touch it because of the strong smell. I love the smell but some people can't stand it.

sheramber

drill some holes in hollow piece of tubing  or a plastic bottle,  long enough to reach down into the  pot and sink it into the pot.

Water into the tube/bottle to ensure wter goes all the way doen the pot.

Brie

Saw this on FB and didn't know if anyone had tried any of these things or know how safe they are - obviously some look very safe.  fyi - I don't know why they say you need 20 cents.  And I think they are wrong when they suggest that boric acid isn't a chemical...

If ants are invading your garden, here's how to fight them: you need 20 cents.
Ecological Homemade Recipe Ingredients :

• 2 hard-boiled egg yolks • ½ teaspoon of honey • 1 teaspoon of boric acid powder

Preparation :

1. Mash the egg yolks.

2. Add the honey and boric acid.

3. Mix until you obtain a paste.

Application :

Place small quantities near anthills. Ants will be attracted and die from dehydration. Other Natural Solutions • Bay leaves: Place them near infested areas. • Cinnamon or Black Pepper: A pinch deters ants. • Baking Soda and Sugar: Mix and spread near the anthills. • Mint, Cornstarch, Talc: These substances also repel ants. Conclusion Using these simple, eco-friendly methods, you can protect your garden from ants without chemicals. It is an economical and environmentally friendly solution.

Farway

Brie said:

Saw this on FB and didn't know if anyone had tried any of these things or know how safe they are - obviously some look very safe.  fyi - I don't know why they say you need 20 cents.  And I think they are wrong when they suggest that boric acid isn't a chemical...

If ants are invading your garden, here's how to fight them: you need 20 cents.
Ecological Homemade Recipe Ingredients :

• 2 hard-boiled egg yolks • ½ teaspoon of honey • 1 teaspoon of boric acid powder

Preparation :

1. Mash the egg yolks.

2. Add the honey and boric acid.

3. Mix until you obtain a paste.

Application :

Place small quantities near anthills. Ants will be attracted and die from dehydration. Other Natural Solutions • Bay leaves: Place them near infested areas. • Cinnamon or Black Pepper: A pinch deters ants. • Baking Soda and Sugar: Mix and spread near the anthills. • Mint, Cornstarch, Talc: These substances also repel ants. Conclusion Using these simple, eco-friendly methods, you can protect your garden from ants without chemicals. It is an economical and environmentally friendly solution.

The bit they left out, you put the paste onto the 20C coin, or in our case 2P

Stops it leaching away into the soil & you can see where it is

itsthelittlethings

Boiling water if they’re outside, borax if they’re inside.