Yikes and Ouch! Ants in your plants is no fun and Fire Ant bites are especially painful. All sources that I checked with recommend the use of Ortho Max Mound Treatment for Fire Ants but Orttho also makes a liquid and granules that can be spread around the mounds and then moistened with water. All these Ortho Fire Ant Treatments have been rated very effective in University Studies and the time to treat is right now! Don't wait until summer. Using boiling water on the mounds will kill most of the ants 60% of the time but are not as effective as the granules or liquid. The poison used to kill the ants will dissipate quickly but you need to read and follow the directions on the product about the length of time that must pass before you plant your garden.