I need a good ant killer for my yard. I have ants all over my backyard where my kids and dogs play.Need recomandations what works
I second Howard Garret's methods. www.dirtdoctor.com. I used orange oil to get rid of ants. Then we started an organic approach to lawn care to keep them away.
I'd like to second grits. We have also used cous cous. Both are cheap and can be bought in bulk. I sprinkle some around the mounds and when the ants combine these foods with water in their little bellies they explode because the grits/cous cous expands so much. Good luck!
K.,
Believe it or not, but one of the best ant killers out there is Aspartame, or better known as Equal or Nutrasweet. Just sprinkle some over the mounds and around your home and you'll never have a problem again. I would never feed my family the stuff, 'cause it's a potent neurotoxin, but it works as a great "poison" for those little critters!
K.,
We have used permethrin in our yard. Works great, it has a residual effect. It works on everything, spiders, fleas, ticks included. Label says its safe to use around animals too. WE have had no adverse side effects using it at all. You can get it at a feed store, I really don't know of any other place to get it.
Sara
When I worked at Wal-Mart, everybody used to say that over 'n out was the best ant killer. You just apply it all over your yard and you only have to do it once per year.
I recommend sugar! Pour it generously over the mounds it attracts neodes who eat the little boogers- and there eggs! Its non-toxic, cheap, and very effective! It takes about a week to see results, but they are gone and there are no eggs left to hatch and make more. We have found this to be very effective especially against fire ants!
My girls are allergic to them. I did this for both my house and my parents house. Get a bucket with hot water and dish soap and fill the bucket with this mixture, then add come vinager. Then walk around the yard and dump it on all the ant mounds you see. The water will sink down into the holes and fill again. They were out of the yard within acouple days.
Diamatreous earth, not the kind for swimming pools. It is organic and you might ask Rodenta´s Garden in Arl. where to find it. My son uses it and likes it.
Since your kids and dogs are all over your yard I would recommend using something NON-TOXIC. There are lots of options. Check out Howard Garrett's (THE DIRT DOCTOR) website for a lot of ideas. We put beneficial nematodes on our yard every other year. That keeps the ants (esp. fire ants) and fleas to a bare, bare minimum and they are harmless to earthworms, pets and humans. I order them from Arbico Organics, online, ususally. GOOD LUCK!
seven dust works great and won't harm the children and pets.
We use cornmeal or salt and cayenne powder mixture (where kids are not going to be).
I used instant grits, and they were gone immediately.
my husband says Amdro is the best by far.
I would like to second using Equal. You can buy it in a box and just pour a liberal amount (you want to get them all back in the hole) along the trail and then down the ant hole. In about a week just rake or vacuum them all up, they will be dead and not come back either. We have used this for years, and no we do not eat equal even though we are much bigger than an ant.
K. @ The Nestingplace
With the ants in the area where your children and dogs play, I really hope you will follow Howard Garrett's program. Amdro is a neurotoxin which impacts the central nervous system, especially of growing children. We have had a lot of luck using nematodes, which are microscopic worms that love to eat ants. Most garden centers carry them, and you keep them in the refrigerator until you apply them, preferably when it's cool and near sunset. All you need is water and a large bucket. Good luck!
I would suggest orange oil. We've you several times on ant piles in our yard. It's a natural product so you aren't using chemicals where your kids and pets will play. For more info you look it up on Howard Garrett's website www.dirtdoctor.com. Good luck!
pouring boiling water from a kettle works instantly. This is also good for weeds in the cracks of your concrete walkway.
We've always had good results from Amdro.
