Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Ants – again
Audio PlayerIf there’s one creature I really wish would social distance it’s ANTS. They were bad last year and are back in abundance this year.
![](https://gardenbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ants-in-sedum.png)
They’ve lifted some sedums and hollowed out some of my Karl Forester grasses.
![](https://gardenbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ants-made-hollowed-out-grass.jpg)
I tried the non-toxic diatomaceous earth, a fine white powder that sticks to their bodies and dries them out. It killed some and sent the rest of them fleeing. No suitcases necessary, they just scurried down a couple feet away and started over. Industrious little buggers. I tried Terro Liquid ant bait, which contains borax, something I tell you NOT to use for creeping charlie. It killed some, again they’ve just found a new home.
Other chemicals that will kill them include bifenthrin, while sounding organic because it’s made partially of chrysanthemum, remember that arsenic is also “organic”. It’s highly toxic to bees. B-cyfluthrin is also effective and, by accounts, less toxic. Permethrin is highly toxic to fish but the jury is still out on whether it’s a carcinogen. U of M entomologist Jeffrey Hahn says to tolerate these ants nests when possible. Ugh, why can’t they just move to the curb!
![](https://gardenbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ants-in-lawn-2020.png)
This year they nested in new sod along my sidewalk, in my perennial bed and about a half a dozen other places in my lawn. Tolerance is becoming tougher! I’d rather have creeping charlie!! It doesn’t bite! Good info from Wis. Hort