Little ants are causing big problems in many of the community gardens this year. I went out to one where three-quarters of a row of peas was completely gone due to their presence. Years ago, I would grab a can of Diazinon to knock out colonies, but have had to turn to other methods since its been pulled off of the shelf because of potential neurological damage and death.

So what to use instead of the heavy duty stuff?

Instant grits.

Yes, ants love those instant grits, but the grits don’t love them back. Sprinkle the instant grits (and they need to be the instant variety) around the hill so the ants can take them back to the colony to eat. The instant grits expand upon ingestion, killing the ants. Kind of gruesome when you think about it, but it certainly helps keep them out of the garden.

There are other options to keep ants away from your plants if you can’t find the colony. Diatomaceous earth is often used to create a protective barrier around plants. Sprinkle it in a wide line around the ones you want to keep away from ants to discourage them from crossing the line. The jagged earth harms their outer cover, potentially killing them.

Homemade Killers

Supposedly baking soda has a similar effect, although I havent tried it.

Boric acid is a well-known ant killer, and the easiest source is to use the good old 20 Mule Team laundry detergent. Add a couple of tablespoons of the powdered borax to a cup of warm water and cup of sugar. Stir until all of it is dissolved, then soak cotton balls in the sugary water. Place them around your plants or plop them down on the colony. This sweet bait is the same concept used in the Terro brand of ant baits that work very well to rid yourself of many varieties of ants found in the home and garden. Keep both the homemade remedy and commercial bait away from kids and pets.

Ants also don’t like citrus. You can blitz a few orange or lemon peels in a food processor with water and pour in an outline around your plants or rows. Or, place a few drops of citrus essential oil on cotton balls and place near the plants. Youll have to refresh both of these after several rains or waterings.

Or, break out the cloves. Make a perimeter of whole cloves around your affected plants to discourage ants from coming back. Not only will it deter them, itll make the entire garden smell like Christmas dessert!

Killing Fire Ants

Fire ants, which thankfully dont live here in Montana, are a nastier issue. I remember stepping on a colony when visiting my grandparents in Florida, and the pain was excruciating. My personal go-to remedy is a gasoline and a match, but once again, this is frowned upon by most everybody!

Fire ants are susceptible to baits, but they need to have a bigger bang than the typical sweet baits. Look for products that contain hydramethylnon, an organic compound that basically shuts down the ants within 2 to 3 days. As with any pesticide, use it with caution (wear gloves or at least thoroughly wash your hands immediately after handling), and keep it away from children or pets. From what Ive read on the chemical, a 35 pound dog would have to eat 600 small ant bait stations to receive a lethal amount, but who wants to take the chance?