Gardening advice please

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by arabian_ian, Jun 27, 2021.

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  1. arabian_ian

    arabian_ian Well-Known Member

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    I lifted 4 slabs this morning to find an ant colony. Not really knowing what to do I went for a shower hoping maybe the birds might have a feast. 15 minutes later I was back down stairs and had another look. Could not believe it, all the hundreds of white grub things were gone. All of them. Still plenty ant activity. Now I’m not sure if the birds quickly ate them all of if the ants grabbed them to take them else where. But they are gone.
    Now would it be advisable to buy some ant killer and hopefully get rid of them or will they move on to another sheltered home?
    Hopefully some green fingered type here can offer some advice. Thanks.
     
    arabian_ian, Jun 27, 2021
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  2. I'm Spartacus

    I'm Spartacus Well-Known Member

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    Napalm...
     
    I'm Spartacus, Jun 27, 2021
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  3. arabian_ian

    arabian_ian Well-Known Member

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    Do B&Q sell it?
     
    arabian_ian, Jun 27, 2021
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  4. Dragon Tyke

    Dragon Tyke Well-Known Member

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    Dragon Tyke, Jun 27, 2021
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  5. Pin

    PinballWizard Well-Known Member

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    Ant killer does work, but I've only ever used it inside the home. They get in my kitchen from time to time and it clears them off. Outside I usually boil a full kettle and pour it around where they are and they usually clear off.
     
    PinballWizard, Jun 27, 2021
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  6. Redarmy87

    Redarmy87 Well-Known Member

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    Antacid, not good for their stomachs
     
    Redarmy87, Jun 27, 2021
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  7. I'm Spartacus

    I'm Spartacus Well-Known Member

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    Napalm for the fainthearted...
     
    I'm Spartacus, Jun 27, 2021
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  8. Redarmy87

    Redarmy87 Well-Known Member

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    Savage!
     
    Redarmy87, Jun 27, 2021
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  9. Redhelen

    Redhelen Well-Known Member

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    As long as the ants aren't indoors can't you just leave them be?
     
    Redhelen, Jun 27, 2021
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  10. Redarmy87

    Redarmy87 Well-Known Member

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    Few years ago in my old place I had an influx of ladybirds (over 100!). They clustered together in the folds of the curtains in the dining room. It's quite common apparantly. I couldn't kill them and couldn't scoop them up to get them outside. Most of them died naturally after the winter and I discarded their empty carcasses. Bit heartbreaking really!
     
    Redarmy87, Jun 27, 2021
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  11. Ton

    Tonjytyke Well-Known Member

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    I spent 3 weeks and hundreds of pounds, but I’ve finally got my garden exactly how I want it........
    ..so it can be swept!
     
    Tonjytyke, Jun 27, 2021
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  12. Pin

    PinballWizard Well-Known Member

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    Yes, probably. I only try and get rid if we're out in the garden and they're crawling up our chairs and other things. Otherwise I'll leave them be.
     
    PinballWizard, Jun 27, 2021
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  13. Sopwith Camel

    Sopwith Camel Well-Known Member

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    Put the slabs back down and leave em be.
     
    Sopwith Camel, Jun 27, 2021
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  14. sadbrewer

    sadbrewer Well-Known Member

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    I had the same problem...we found that some of of the ant killer products are crap, get a container of Doff Ant and cockroach killer ....cover the colony liberally and put the slabs back....worked for us.
     
    sadbrewer, Jun 27, 2021
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  15. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    If you uncover an ants nest and there are white eggs, before you put any killer powder down have a look at what they do.
    There is a mad but organised rush by the ants to grab the eggs and take them down the holes.
    It's fascinating to watch and all the eggs are gone in minutes.
    It seems a shame to kill them but of course you don't want them in the house or even close by. The best and quickest way is the puff container ant powder, it works very quickly as the ants take the powder into the nest and all are killed.
    Sad really.
     
    Mr Badger, Jun 27, 2021
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  16. arabian_ian

    arabian_ian Well-Known Member

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    That’s what happened. All the wee white egg things and there were hundreds just all disappeared within 15 minutes. Had I known that would happen I’d have filmed them.
     
    arabian_ian, Jun 27, 2021
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  17. Jim

    JimboBaggins Well-Known Member

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    Saw one of those survival programmes once, Bear Grylls probably. He had a bit of tarp on the ground with a shade over one half, dug up an ants nest and dumped the mix of soil and ant larvae onto the sunny side. The ants went to work moving the larvae into the shade and in 5 minutes time he had a nice clean pile of grubs to eat.
     
    JimboBaggins, Jun 27, 2021
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  18. Sparky

    Sparky Well-Known Member

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    Lifting flags??? Were you trying to find a penny you'd dropped
     
    Sparky, Jun 27, 2021
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  19. arabian_ian

    arabian_ian Well-Known Member

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    Found it.
     
    arabian_ian, Jun 27, 2021
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  20. tingleytyke

    tingleytyke Well-Known Member

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    tingleytyke, Jun 27, 2021
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