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#113515 - 04/04/07 03:35 AM
Re: Gardening
[Re: yonuh]
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Registered: 01/31/07
Posts: 73
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Weeds...this year I am trying the newspaper trick. Put down several layers of newspaper. Weeds can't get thru them. I saw it last year in someone's vegetable garden. It works.
Ants and cornmeal...I think I just read something about that in a tips post here yesterday.
My garden...someone from the city just came yesterday to talk to me. They have a rain garden program here in my town. If you plant an approved rain garden they give you a freeeeee rain barrel and a bit of a break on your water bill. I signed up over the winter and the person came out to check the location and approve it. I can't wait to get started. My rain barrel arrived today! I'm planting astilbe, lobelia cardinalis, some grasses and Queen of the Prairie.
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#113516 - 04/04/07 04:46 AM
Re: Gardening
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 09/29/05
Posts: 217
Loc: Moscow
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Quote:
Two words ... FIRE ANTS.
Any suggestions?
Fire ants. Can do.
I lived in Texas for 25 years. Fire ants killed my pets, ate the electrical wiring, swarmed my kids and ruined the yard.
What works is this: Logic or Award. We used to buy it at the feed store, sometimes could find it in garden centers. Sometimes had to get the feed store to order it for me, but it works! And it's expensive.
What it is is a fire ant growth hormone. Not poison. Will not kill a living fire ant or anything else so its safe in the yard around pets and kids and people. The ants carry it back to the colony, feed it to the queen, and all the subsequent eggs she lays will fail to hatch. It takes about 3 or 4 weeks before you will notice a reduced number of ants. If you stay after the problem doggedly, you will reduce the number of ants 90% within a year.
But as you well know there are other issues: if neighboring properties don't treat for fire ants they will move right back into your yard from next door; and their labyrinth of connected mounds stretches for miles. Ants ants and more ants.
Logic/Award (I've seen it sold under both names) is the ONLY thing that works. Killing ants with poison is just dangerous to the environment and people, and isn't effective. They come back with a vengence in short order.
What we used to do (it was about 5 acres) is get some 1 pound coffee cans and poke a bunch of holes in the plastic lids. Put Logic in the cans and send everybody out on a Saturday morning shaking the stuff over the entire property, doesn't need to be a thick coating just the ocassional granules. Wait 2 or 3 weeks. Do it again. after that you will notice a rapid decrease in the ants.
I know your fire ant pain. If I can be of any other assistance with this problem please let me know. I hate fire ants with a passion.
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#113517 - 04/04/07 11:20 PM
Re: Gardening
[Re: mrs_madness]
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thus far, a yarrow, herbs, salvia, coreopsis, gallardia, will plant more later, after Easter as we are expecting a near freeze. Wishing for more rain, though, as my rain dance consist of moving the sprinklers every 1/2 hour!
Fire ants, I was told to try corn meal as they will eat it and then explode! May try it and will let ya'll know if successful! Happy gardening!
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#113520 - 04/08/07 01:21 AM
Re: Gardening
[Re: jawjaw]
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Member
Registered: 06/27/05
Posts: 2561
Loc: Alabama
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JJ I feel your pain. As you know I'm on the coast south of you and it's a huge problem here, too. We put poison on mounds and new ones pop up over night. Our property is too big to be able to do what Mrs Madness suggests but I wish we could. I make the mistake of wearing flip flops outside and inevitably step in a mound hidden beneath the grass. I guess if I were you I'd inspect a section of grass really thoroughly and try to keep your little one within that area. Fire ants are truly a curse.
_________________________
Dee "They will be able to say that she stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her away....and surely it has not.....she adjusted her sails" - Elizabeth Edwards
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#113522 - 04/08/07 08:06 AM
Re: Gardening
[Re: Dee]
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Member
Registered: 12/30/05
Posts: 3027
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In Scotland things are starting.Blosson trees are just begining.Daffodis are abundant.The local town have whole banks as we enter. Here I garden ...having to take things slowly this year. Soon more things.tulips iris and from then on everything shoots up. Rhoddendrons and azealas soon .It is my favourite time as things start over again. Mountain ash.
BTW Mountain ash trees (Rowans) are starting to bud.
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#113523 - 04/08/07 02:16 PM
Re: Gardening
[Re: Mountain Ash]
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hmmm, maybe we should begin posting photos of our gardens? Dotsie, would this be ok? I'd love to see gardens worldwide, loved and attended to by women.
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