**FULL QUESTION**
Dear *Gardening Life*,
I am having a problem with ants in a flower bed that I mulched with spruce chips from a logging site. I have put some diatomaceous earth on it and tried drops of Raid. What should I do?
*—Gabriella Noullett, Peace River, AB*
**FULL ANSWER**
Dear Gabriella,
Ants are crucial for the survival of the planet but NIMFB (Not In My Flower Bed). Try this solution from my book *My Favorite Garden Tips* (2003). Blend orange peel and a little juice to make a thick paste. Smear it over the ant hills, making sure some goes into the holes. Apparently, oranges give off a gas the ants hate. Or plant tansy and sprinkle the dried flowers around. Last resort? Pour boiling water into the ant hill.
*—Marjorie Harris, Editor at Large*
Other questions recently answered by the GL team:
Controlling weeds without chemicals
Getting rid of pesky iris borers
Finding crabgrass seeds
Planting under maple trees
Discouraging cats from your garden
Hints for growing sweet bell peppers
Buying exotic plants in Toronto
Preventing brown leaf spot
Information on peony-flowered poppies
Tips for growing tulips and lilies
When to move irises
Maintaining blue spruces
The best way to grow gunneras
Getting rid of sawfly larvae on roses
Eliminating earwigs from clematis flowers
Beetle damage to spruce trees
Removing whiteflies from hibiscus leaves
Building a cactus garden
Maintaining redbud trees
Maintaining Boston ivy growth
Using black walnut leaves for mulch
Stopping powdery mildew on maples
Planting trees near a swale
Growing on a septic field
How to battle weeds between flagstone and alternative options
Mysterious orange powder on the lawn
What to do with end-of-season potatoes on the vine
How to control Japanese knotweed
What to grow in a dry area
The proper way to plant astrantia
What is the star flower and how do I manage it?
(continued below)
Be the first to comment on "Clearing ants"
Editor's note: This is a moderated forum, so your comments won't appear until approved by the moderator. Please help us foster a friendly environment by keeping your posts civil and on-point. We reserve the right to delete comments that include foul language, personal attacks on others, sales solicitations or any other inappropriate content. Posted comments reflect the opinions of the poster, not of gardeninglife.ca. Read our privacy policy for more information.