Ants in herb garden.... GRAH!?

Question

Ants in the herb garden.

Ants eating the herb garden.

I do not like these ants.

For years, I have peacefully coexisted with the hundreds of ants that live in my hardbaked, grassless front lawn. Now they've moved into the back, and are eating EVERYTHING. They've destroyed on of my rosebushes, and now they're getting to the lavender, and they've already attacked my strawberry pot. Now they're getting close to my herb garden.

Being that these are mostly things I eat, or use around my home, I'm very hesitant to use pesticides and such. I also live in the south, for what that's worth.

HELP!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

One thing to try which is harmless to humans and the soil is something called “Diatomaceous Earth” or “Diatom Powder” which is the microscopic skeletal remains of prehistoric diatoms (small water creatures). You will be able to find it at a pet shop that sells fish (it is used in a type of filter). The powder can be sprinkled on and around the ant mounds. What it does is cut the exoskeleton of the ants and kills them by dehydration. Chances are they will move on to greener pastures. It will need to be re-applied if it rains.

Answer 2

Use a mix of cinnamon and sugar. The ants will pick up the sugar, along with the cinnamon, and take it back to their queen. Ants can’t digest cinnamon and once the queen dies from not being able to digest the cinnamon the colony will die without her.

Answer 3

Yesterday I noticed at the grocery store that there are spikes for for killing outside  ants.  Just like the ones for inside, so they won't leak on your plants, but they stick into the ground so other animals don't run off with it.  Raid makes them.



Or you could see about picking up a miniature ant-eater from Central American and raise it as a pet.