Should I eliminate my Garden Ants?

[Kaiser's Gardener 2024]

Can someone help me decide on whether I should eliminate the ant colonies that have taken multiplied in my Garden or just force them to move location if that's even possible

At first I tolerated them since they are a part of my part of the garden's ecosystem. But recently I notice that nearly every pot that I have has an ant colony and some have started spreading scale insects in my fruiting plants like my figs.

I don't like using chemicals in dealing with insects since I have vegetables and cats roaming around but the ants are starting to get annoying

 

[oneeye]

Can someone help me decide on whether I should eliminate the ant colonies that have taken multiplied in my Garden or just force them to move location if that's even possible

At first I tolerated them since they are a part of my part of the garden's ecosystem. But recently I notice that nearly every pot that I have has an ant colony and some have started spreading scale insects in my fruiting plants like my figs.

I don't like using chemicals in dealing with insects since I have vegetables and cats roaming around but the ants are starting to get annoying

Its important to separate the pots from the ground. If you put the pot directly on the ground, the Ants will invade the pot. If you put a large drain tray or concrete stepping stone under the pots the Ants won't enter. Now that you have Ants its best to flood them out with water.

On watering day put your plants container with Ants in a drain tray and bottom water the pots. Be careful and wear gloves because they will be madder than heck and will sting if your not fast. After they leave put the pots on a hard surface or keep drain trays under them. You don't need chemicals, friend.

 

[Kaiser's Gardener 2024]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it during my next watering day.



I never knew that ants prefer pots that are direct to ground. I just thought they formed colonies on the big pots since it usually contains a fruiting plant. No wonder they never got to my cacti since they are all placed on top of a table



However,do you have any advice on how to keep them from coming back? Some pots are too big and heavy to be placed on drain
trays

 

[oneeye]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it during my next watering day.



I never knew that ants prefer pots that are direct to ground. I just thought they formed colonies on the big pots since it usually contains a fruiting plant. No wonder they never got to my cacti since they are all placed on top of a table



However,do you have any advice on how to keep them from coming back? Some pots are too big and heavy to be placed on drain
trays

Flush them away with water.

 

[Sean Regan]

I've just bought a couple of these, we get ants every year, but it soon clears them.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

If you use poison slates are good. You put a poison and sugar water mix on a slate with a few broken bits of slate on it, then put another slate on top. Get it right and the gap is too small for anything but ants to get to the poison. If you have colonies in the ground they can be killed by pouring a kettle of boiling water on them, no poison.
As for eliminating them, you'll be lucky, animals found on every continent, humans, things like dogs that humans took with them, and ants. They took themselves

 

[cpp gardener]

I find that they nest in every single pot, in a saucer, lifted on pot feet, hanging in baskets.
If you can get Amdro, it works very well and is VERY low toxicity. It’s a granule you sprinkle around.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

If they are carpenter ants, yes. they can get in your house and damage it. I get ant mounds now and then around my garden.