I have a perennial problem with garden ants building nests in my lawn. Killing the nest when it breaks the surface isn’t too much of a problem, but I’d like to manage things pre-emptively. Putting ordinary ant poison down all over the garden would just kill off my lawn. What do the gardeners of the SDMB recommend?
How about one of the granular insecticides that you apply with a drop or broadcast spreader?
Don’t. Unless they are Fire ants, or are getting in your home, they help clean your garden, and in some cases they get rid of pests (but not aphids).
But if they are Fire Ants- nuke 'em. Diazanon. (sp?)
Please note that diazinon has been voluntarily phased out by the industry and is unavailable for purchase.
If your dealing with fireants, the best solution is probably going to be one of the products specifically made for fireants.
here (warning, pdf) is a guide on eliminating fireants for homeowners from the Texas Ag extension. It discusses the available chemicals and how to use them in a two-step process.
I’m in the U.K. so I don’t think they’re fire ants, but they ruin my lawn so they must go.