"Are you wanting to move a nest or stop them coming in the house?
Move a nest that's in the greenhouse"
I'm no help then. We ignore the ones in the garden, but have experience getting them out the house |
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By *r TriomanMan
over a year ago
Chippenham Malmesbury area |
"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers  "
In that case, you seem to have only 2 choices; kill the ants or move your greenhouse (and cucumbers). |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Are you wanting to move a nest or stop them coming in the house?
Move a nest that's in the greenhouse"
Its difficult, colonies can be around 3m deep and 3m wide its near impossible to move them. Power is pretty much the only way, you may kill afew hundred but the other 100000 will move on.   |
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"Are you wanting to move a nest or stop them coming in the house?
Move a nest that's in the greenhouse
I'm no help then. We ignore the ones in the garden, but have experience getting them out the house "
I would not ignore these but they're getting really invasive |
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"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers
In that case, you seem to have only 2 choices; kill the ants or move your greenhouse (and cucumbers)."
I think I'll take the third option of do nothing |
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"Are you wanting to move a nest or stop them coming in the house?
Move a nest that's in the greenhouse
Its difficult, colonies can be around 3m deep and 3m wide its near impossible to move them. Power is pretty much the only way, you may kill afew hundred but the other 100000 will move on. "
I think I'm probably going to have to try and live in harmony with them, there's a huge colony under our garden which we tolerate usually, after all they tolerate us but this year they seem to be really prolific. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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They are good for the garden as they eating the eggs of other nastier pests.
They do pollinate moving from one plant to another (perhaps not quite as good as for example bees).
You can try:-
Distributing artificial sweetener near the ants. Reportedly, this is fatal to ants (which might make you reconsider adding the stuff to your coffee!).
or
Sprinkle ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper around your plants. |
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Ants don't like wet soil very much so if you can keep it wet and
it doesn't harm your cucumbers, then that might encourage them to move on.
Also, have a look at ant or fruit and veg nematodes. These are a type of microscopic worm to put in the soil that are an ant predator. Ants do not like being near them and that may encourage them to move house.
Good Luck! |
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"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers "
I suggest ant powder, but its not very humane. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Are you wanting to move a nest or stop them coming in the house?
Move a nest that's in the greenhouse
Its difficult, colonies can be around 3m deep and 3m wide its near impossible to move them. Power is pretty much the only way, you may kill afew hundred but the other 100000 will move on.
I think I'm probably going to have to try and live in harmony with them, there's a huge colony under our garden which we tolerate usually, after all they tolerate us but this year they seem to be really prolific."
You could try the black pepper & (i think) cayenne, its a slow method but iirc ants dont like it, you have to put a fair old scattering down but i seem to remember it work, *i think it works on ants |
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"They are good for the garden as they eating the eggs of other nastier pests.
They do pollinate moving from one plant to another (perhaps not quite as good as for example bees).
You can try:-
Distributing artificial sweetener near the ants. Reportedly, this is fatal to ants (which might make you reconsider adding the stuff to your coffee!).
or
Sprinkle ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper around your plants. "
Thank you.
The only thing I add to my coffee is water and milk  .
I have a little tortoise who co-owns my greenhouse I'm loathe to put anything down that will upset him/her (too young to tell) |
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"Ants don't like wet soil very much so if you can keep it wet and
it doesn't harm your cucumbers, then that might encourage them to move on.
Also, have a look at ant or fruit and veg nematodes. These are a type of microscopic worm to put in the soil that are an ant predator. Ants do not like being near them and that may encourage them to move house.
Good Luck!"
I hadn't thought of nematodes, good idea thanks |
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"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers
I suggest ant powder, but its not very humane. "
I can't use it because of my tortoise |
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"Are you wanting to move a nest or stop them coming in the house?
Move a nest that's in the greenhouse
Its difficult, colonies can be around 3m deep and 3m wide its near impossible to move them. Power is pretty much the only way, you may kill afew hundred but the other 100000 will move on.
I think I'm probably going to have to try and live in harmony with them, there's a huge colony under our garden which we tolerate usually, after all they tolerate us but this year they seem to be really prolific.
You could try the black pepper & (i think) cayenne, its a slow method but iirc ants dont like it, you have to put a fair old scattering down but i seem to remember it work, *i think it works on ants "
That would upset my tortoise friend I think  |
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I love all creatures great and small but ants freak me out. They came to visit my kitchen one summer and I paid rentokil to exterminate them. It was impossible to find how they were getting in so I got rid of the problem before it got worse. |
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"I love all creatures great and small but ants freak me out. They came to visit my kitchen one summer and I paid rentokil to exterminate them. It was impossible to find how they were getting in so I got rid of the problem before it got worse."
I freaked out today when I disturbed their nest and they swarmed up my arm. . |
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"Any advice on how to humanely and efficiently move them on?
Book them a little holiday, pack of them little rucksacks and ask them nicely?"
There's about 75 billion of them where will I get that many ruck sacks?  |
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"Screwfix product code 347HV should do the trick 
Is it a flame thrower?
Not quite- ant killer spray, they die quickly so its quite humane and doesn't violate their insect rights either "
I can't use it because of my tortoise friend who regularly stomps about in there and quite often eats an ant or two of he/she can catch them |
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"Screwfix product code 347HV should do the trick
Is it a flame thrower?
Not quite- ant killer spray, they die quickly so its quite humane and doesn't violate their insect rights either
I can't use it because of my tortoise friend who regularly stomps about in there and quite often eats an ant or two of he/she can catch them "
In which case, Screwfix item 1494K is the better option (This one really is a flame thrower) |
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"Screwfix product code 347HV should do the trick
Is it a flame thrower?
Not quite- ant killer spray, they die quickly so its quite humane and doesn't violate their insect rights either
I can't use it because of my tortoise friend who regularly stomps about in there and quite often eats an ant or two of he/she can catch them
In which case, Screwfix item 1494K is the better option (This one really is a flame thrower) "
Ha ha. Scorched earth policy |
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"I love all creatures great and small but ants freak me out. They came to visit my kitchen one summer and I paid rentokil to exterminate them. It was impossible to find how they were getting in so I got rid of the problem before it got worse.
I freaked out today when I disturbed their nest and they swarmed up my arm. . "
Goodness how awful. I was told lemon juice or apple cider vinegar keeps them away.
|
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"I love all creatures great and small but ants freak me out. They came to visit my kitchen one summer and I paid rentokil to exterminate them. It was impossible to find how they were getting in so I got rid of the problem before it got worse.
I freaked out today when I disturbed their nest and they swarmed up my arm. .
Goodness how awful. I was told lemon juice or apple cider vinegar keeps them away.
"
I could try apple cider vinegar, citrus is harmful to my tortoise |
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By *iren!!Woman
over a year ago
Coventry |
Diatomaceous earth may be worth a try, if you look it up online. I've got dogs so had to look for an alternative option for aphid control. Ants farm aphids so it's worth taking a look at your plants and seeing if there are any infestation. A dusting of DE powder can get rid of most of them, thus removing the ants food source so they move on to a different area. Also helps stop your tortoise friend getting mites apparently.
I also bought ladybird larvae last year and they have stuck around as they have grown and are now breeding the next generation so are keeping on top of the aphids. My roses and Acer trees are very grateful.
A slightly more aggressive option is a pop bottle with a sugar/borax mix with a little water. Poke holes big enough for the ants to get in, and let them take it back to the nest. Place it out of tortoises reach, but where the ants can find it. |
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"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers
I suggest ant powder, but its not very humane.
I can't use it because of my tortoise "
Apologies, of course not.
Have you googled 'ant predators'? |
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Aren’t they like bees? Find the queen, relocate her and the ants will follow.
Tips for finding a queen;
organise an ants riding beetles polo match, she’ll be the one watching from the royal box
Put out some free tea and cakes, see which one doesn’t help themselves but gets waited upon
Look for the one with a crown and a moleskin robe.
Put a little river in your greenhouse and an ants sized yacht, see which one smashes the little champagne bottle against the hull to launch it.
|
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"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers
I suggest ant powder, but its not very humane.
I can't use it because of my tortoise
Apologies, of course not.
Have you googled 'ant predators'? "
Not yet but I will |
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"Diatomaceous earth may be worth a try, if you look it up online. I've got dogs so had to look for an alternative option for aphid control. Ants farm aphids so it's worth taking a look at your plants and seeing if there are any infestation. A dusting of DE powder can get rid of most of them, thus removing the ants food source so they move on to a different area. Also helps stop your tortoise friend getting mites apparently.
I also bought ladybird larvae last year and they have stuck around as they have grown and are now breeding the next generation so are keeping on top of the aphids. My roses and Acer trees are very grateful.
A slightly more aggressive option is a pop bottle with a sugar/borax mix with a little water. Poke holes big enough for the ants to get in, and let them take it back to the nest. Place it out of tortoises reach, but where the ants can find it."
|
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"Aren’t they like bees? Find the queen, relocate her and the ants will follow.
Tips for finding a queen;
organise an ants riding beetles polo match, she’ll be the one watching from the royal box
Put out some free tea and cakes, see which one doesn’t help themselves but gets waited upon
Look for the one with a crown and a moleskin robe.
Put a little river in your greenhouse and an ants sized yacht, see which one smashes the little champagne bottle against the hull to launch it.
"
Digging a river as we speak... |
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"Aren’t they like bees? Find the queen, relocate her and the ants will follow.
Tips for finding a queen;
organise an ants riding beetles polo match, she’ll be the one watching from the royal box
Put out some free tea and cakes, see which one doesn’t help themselves but gets waited upon
Look for the one with a crown and a moleskin robe.
Put a little river in your greenhouse and an ants sized yacht, see which one smashes the little champagne bottle against the hull to launch it.
Digging a river as we speak..."
If it’s launched with a bottle of Prosecco that’s just the princess. Reset and build a bigger yacht |
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By *iren!!Woman
over a year ago
Coventry |
"Handy for keeping bugs off everything.
Mr
Erm...what is?
The ants. They don't eat plants but will munch their way through a greenfly infestation.
They don't eat the green flies per se, but will farm the larvae (move them to new growth on plants) and then feed off of the sticky sap the aphids produce. The ants will protect them from other predators like ladybirds and lacewings too, so it's easy to become overwhelmed by both without interception.
Nature is savage, but absolutely fascinating lol
Mr"
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Handy for keeping bugs off everything.
Mr
Erm...what is?
The ants. They don't eat plants but will munch their way through a greenfly infestation.
They don't eat the green flies per se, but will farm the larvae (move them to new growth on plants) and then feed off of the sticky sap the aphids produce. The ants will protect them from other predators like ladybirds and lacewings too, so it's easy to become overwhelmed by both without interception.
Nature is savage, but absolutely fascinating lol
Mr"
Thank you, every day's a school day.
Mr |
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"Handy for keeping bugs off everything.
Mr
Erm...what is?
The ants. They don't eat plants but will munch their way through a greenfly infestation.
Mr"
Ah right I understand .
They farm blackfly too which flaming infest my runners every darn year. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers "
I’ve seen videos of people doing it with molten metal…. But I think the best was empty, you wouldn’t believe how far underground they go. Probably better to call in an expert |
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"I think you can carefully did them out and move them somewhere else but I'm not sure how it's done properly.
I don't think that's feasible. They seem to be under my cucumbers
I’ve seen videos of people doing it with molten metal…. But I think the best was empty, you wouldn’t believe how far underground they go. Probably better to call in an expert "
I reckon there's a huge colony under our garden. To be fair to them they were here first |
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"Wiping vinegar in the area they seem to be coming in or congregating seems to work quite well for us. "
I might put a vinegar soaked cloth near the nest in the greenhouse. I don't want to put it on the ground because of my tortoise |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Wiping vinegar in the area they seem to be coming in or congregating seems to work quite well for us.
I might put a vinegar soaked cloth near the nest in the greenhouse. I don't want to put it on the ground because of my tortoise"
It's worth a try, I always used to just use ant powder but now we have a cat we have got to be a bit more careful. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Wiping vinegar in the area they seem to be coming in or congregating seems to work quite well for us. "
I tried that and put some salt down for the snails. The ground was very crispy in the morning.  |
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"You could shrink yourself enter the nest locate the queen.
Then talk to her as her to keep the workers out of your house.
Maybe share some cake and a cup of tea with her.
Simples "
I honestly don't know why I didn't think of that. Do you think she'll listen? |
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"Wiping vinegar in the area they seem to be coming in or congregating seems to work quite well for us.
I tried that and put some salt down for the snails. The ground was very crispy in the morning. "
.
 |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Use baby Talc, stuff works miracles and they won't go past it to come inside.
Never had ants return since someone told me about using it. "
Same with washing up liquid but messier |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Don’t know if anyone had said this as didn’t read the thread, but if you put some vinegar in a bottle (you can add some aromatherapy oil to make it smell better), and spray it where they are they will leave, because it messes up their ability to pick up scents. |
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Ants are generally not to bad for the roots of yours plants , they dig Tunnels ect that will help with air ration and water within your plants root system .. they also help with pests such as green lace wings ect …
Failing that did the nest out and relocate.. be better prepared for angry ants  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Ants are generally not to bad for the roots of yours plants , they dig Tunnels ect that will help with air ration and water within your plants root system .. they also help with pests such as green lace wings ect …
Failing that did the nest out and relocate.. be better prepared for angry ants "
Lacewings eat aphids. Actually ants are a nightmare when it comes to garden pests, actively fighting off anything that tries to eat aphids. |
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"Just read they don't like peppermint or mint leaves, can you grow some in your glasshouse? "
I have mint in the garden I will scatter some leaves around. There have been far fewer since I watered very, very thoroughly. |
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"Ants are generally not to bad for the roots of yours plants , they dig Tunnels ect that will help with air ration and water within your plants root system .. they also help with pests such as green lace wings ect …
Failing that did the nest out and relocate.. be better prepared for angry ants "
I think they were pretty angry when I disturbed them  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just read they don't like peppermint or mint leaves, can you grow some in your glasshouse?
I have mint in the garden I will scatter some leaves around. There have been far fewer since I watered very, very thoroughly."
Yeah, drown the fuckers. Can't get more humane than that. |
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"You can get nematodes on line, the ants just move house as they don't like to cohabit with worms. Tried them on my allotment and it worked "
Someone else recommended that . If they come back in numbers I'll try it |
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"Just read they don't like peppermint or mint leaves, can you grow some in your glasshouse?
I have mint in the garden I will scatter some leaves around. There have been far fewer since I watered very, very thoroughly.
Yeah, drown the fuckers. Can't get more humane than that. "
someone said they don't like very wet ground. They weren't launching little lifeboats or anything |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"You can get nematodes on line, the ants just move house as they don't like to cohabit with worms. Tried them on my allotment and it worked
Someone else recommended that . If they come back in numbers I'll try it "
There are over 25,000 species of nematode worms and many parasitise a variety of garden pests. Against ants they work by infesting and killing the workers so that there are no longer enough to feed the queen. Once the queen is dead the nest is doomed. Who said biological weapons were a bad idea?  |
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