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St. Augustine and gardens

Thanks to Bill, Janet, et al for the info on fire ants.  It seems I've heard the stories of Amdro just killing the mound but the Queen in waiting moving off to start a new one...Love the advice on the hot water and grits.  At least the fire ants know good cuisine.

Another dumb question this time.  Prior to tilling my garden beds, these areas of my yard sat in limbo; grass/weeds took over where a garden once was.  When reinitiating the garden(s), I never used a weedkiller or anything to remove the grass/weeds (did it by hand).  Now, I find that the biggest nuisance is grass (not weeds) growing in beds.  I have St. Augustine grass in the yard and it's a mighty aggressive, hearty grass.  It normally kills any type of weed.  But it likes to take over gardens too, if given an inch.  Any advice on any mulch/plant combos that might discourage it creeping into garden and flower beds?  Have considered some sort of new border (such as certain rocks or stones embedded around the border).  Right now I just have that el cheapo plastic border you can buy at Home Depot.

Thanks
Camille

----------
From:  Bill DeWitt [SMTP:TheMiller@THEIMAGEMILL.COM]
Sent:  Saturday, August 16, 1997 9:54 AM
To:  Multiple recipients of list SQFT
Subject:  Re: Bill's on fire ants and killing the queen

Dick Russell wrote:
> After years of
> fighting an expensive and unsuccessful battle against fire ants on my
> property, I declared them a benificial insect.

        Spoken like a man who doesn't have children.

>      Facts are: they're here, they're tough, you are going to lose if
> you fight them.

         Wrong. I no longer have fire ants in my yard and with my help they are
out of the neighborhood. Combination of Hot Water, Amdro, and the poison
that I couldn't remember earlier, Orthene Fire Ant
Killer-Acephate(O,S-Dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate).
        WARNING!!! See...
                 http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/acephate.p95
                        ...for info. NOT organic! NOT for use in the Garden! Really works
though! An 8oz can costs $10 and a 1/4 teaspoon will kill a nest. I
still have most of the can I bought, but there are no more ants to kill.
        Fire ants are dangerous, and letting them live is giving aid and
comfort to the enemy. Your beneficial insect is the breeding ground of
your neighbor's dangerous pest. How 'bout you get rid of them and if you
miss their sting, hit your thumb with a hammer. That way I won't have to
worry about my toddler falling into a colony of your friends.
--
             The Image Mill
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