Re: ants and mulch

Call the local animal shelter and see if they have an aardvark up for adoption, I guess. You sure they're ants and not termites? Mostly ants are an esthetic nuisance but usually harmless [except for fire ants that sting and carpenter ants that bite]. Since they nest underground, there are arguments that they are actually good for plants by improving root-zone tilth... yeah, spray 'em. Rotenone. 


On Jun 2, 2007, at 3:40 PM, Donna wrote:


Geesh- it is always something!
I bought some mulch awhile back- bagged kind that I always have used for 
years. When I opened to spread around today, I found it has a zillion
ants in it! Just those small annoying ones, but now what do I do? I
didn't realize it at first since they obviously where at the bottom half 
of the bag....Now I have ants everywhere! Guessing I will have to spray
for them, since this bed happens to be next to the house...


But what am I going to do with 15 bags of ant mulch? How much damage
will they do to plants if I use only on the beds far from the house?
Should I spray them.. gosh, I hate using chemicals and actually have to
go to the store to buy some ant spray.


It hasn't been a good wildlife gardening day... had a stand off with a
snake earlier....dang thing was going to bite me.. so next time I see
it, it is a gonner... passive snakes are allowed to live here, others
are not!


Donna

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT



Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.1 N, 82.4 W
Hardiness Zone 10
Heat Zone 10
Sunset Zone 25
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
Maximum 100 F [38 C]

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index