Can I use ant killer in my vegetable garden?

Never use products containing acephate for mound treatments in the vegetable garden (Hi-Yield Acephate Fire Ant Killer, Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer, or Surrender Fire Ant Killer). Acephate is labeled to treat fire ant mounds in home lawns, but it is not labeled for vegetables.
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How do I get rid of ants in my vegetable garden?

How to Control Ants in Your Garden
  1. Get rid of aphids and other sap-sucking pests. ...
  2. Distribute artificial sweetener near the ants. ...
  3. Sprinkle ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper around your plants. ...
  4. Place food-grade diatomaceous earth by trails and nests. ...
  5. Set a borax (or boric acid) and sugar poison trap.
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What fire ant Killer is safe for vegetable gardens?

Bait products1:

s-methoprene Extinguish Professional Fire Ant Bait Approved for cropland (including vegetable gardens). spinosad FertiLome Come and Get It Approved for vegetable gardens.
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What can you spray on vegetables for ants?

The most common and reliable solvent is citrus oil, which can either be purchased or made at home with citrus peels. Citrus oil is toxic to ants but not to humans and does not affect the garden harvest. It can be sprayed on the soil around the garden -- or even better -- doused directly on the nest.
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Is amdro quick kill safe for vegetable gardens?

Will Amdro Quick Kill® Outdoor Insect Killer harm any flowers, plants or trees? No, Amdro Quick Kill® Outdoor Insect Killer RTS or Concentrate can be used on lawns, listed fruits and vegetables, trees and shrubs, roses and flowers, and outside surfaces of buildings when used in accordance to the label.
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3 Natural Ant Control Methods Using Household Ingredients That Actually WORK



Will fire ant Killer kill plants?

Unlike other topical treatments that can permanently damage your soil and grass, the granular bait we use goes straight to the source. With two treatments a year, your property can be 85% to 95% free of fire ants for four months at a time. Don't let red imported fire ants kill your plants and trees.
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How do you keep fire ants out of raised beds?

Apply a labeled fire ant bait to a 50 to 75 foot wide band around the outside of the garden two to three times per year in spring, mid-summer, and fall, and you will have a lot fewer problems with fire ants in the garden. Just remember, baits are slow-acting and have to be used preventively.
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How do I get rid of ants on my cucumber plants?

Vinegar – similar to lemon juice, a 50/50 vinegar to water concentration will destroy the ants scent trail as well as often killing ants on contact. Test a small spot first and wait a day to take note of any burn marks on the plants, as vinegar can be very astringent to more delicate leaves.
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How do I get rid of ants in my garden naturally?

Step 1: Combine 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap or ¼ cup of Castile soap for every quart of water. You can add canola oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil to make the mixture even more effective. Step 2: Spray soapy water directly on any ants you see outside the nest to kill them on contact.
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Are ants a problem in the garden?

Ants do little direct damage to plants, except by disturbing soil around plant roots and depositing it on the surface during their nest building activities. This can be a nuisance on lawns and where low-growing plants are being buried by excavated soil. They may also disturb plant roots in pots and containers.
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Is Sevin dust safe for vegetable gardens?

Sevin dust can be used to protect vegetable gardens (and it is safe to do so). It can also be used to protect flowers, lawns, and keep fleas and ticks away.
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Do fire ants damage crops?

One study suggests farmers can expect anywhere from 15% to as much as 95% damage to grain crops if fire ants are found on their land.
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What is a natural way to get rid of fire ant mounds?

Pouring boiling or soapy water over mounds

Pouring about three gallons of extremely hot water on a single fire ant mound eliminates the mound about 60 percent of the time. Drenching mounds with a similar amount of hot soapy water is about 60 to 70 percent effective.
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How do I get rid of ants on my zucchini plants?

One is to mix equal amounts of borax and sugar and place this around the base of the plant. The mixture will kill any ant that eats it. Cornmeal and sugar are also a good mixture to try. The cornmeal will expand after it is eaten and will also kill the ants.
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Are ants harmful to tomato plants?

Ants aren't harmful to your tomatoes. They are after the aphids that make their home under the tomato leaves and the “honeydew” they leave behind. Reducing the ant population without driving them away should be your goal.
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Can you use borax in vegetable garden?

Borax can also be used in its powder form to kill weeds. You can sprinkle it directly onto the plants for quick results. Be sure not to apply it when you are expecting rain because this could result in runoff and damage to your veggies.
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What is the best homemade ant killer?

White vinegar and water: Take a spray bottle and fill it with a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray the solution on the ants and their entry points. A mixture of dish soap and water: Make a mixture of dish soap or dishwashing liquid, put in a spray bottle and shake it well. Spray it on the ants.
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Does vinegar get rid of ants?

White vinegar, available at all grocery stores, is a cheap and effective way to kill and repel ants. It is also a natural cleaning agent. Try using a 1-to-1 vinegar/water mixture to clean hard surfaces, including floors and countertops, wherever ants are likely to travel.
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Why are ants attracted to my cucumber plants?

Ants feed on the excreted sap generated by aphids, so if you see ants near your cucumber plants it could indicate an aphid infestation.
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Do ants damage vegetable gardens?

Not only can they inflict a painful sting, but they cause damage to many vegetable crops, such as okra, potatoes, corn, cucumbers and watermelon. They cause the most damage to young, tender plants.
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Are fire ants good for a garden?

Fire ants are extremely effective in controlling plant-feeding insects and arthropods such as boll weevils in cotton and stinkbugs in soybean. Under some conditions fire ants keep the pest populations below the level of economic loss providing a financial savings to growers.
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Does Terro ant Killer kill plants?

If black or red and not fire ants, use terro bait. Sevin might not kill your plants, but it kills honey bees. The amdro and terro will kill the ants and let the bees live.
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How do I get rid of fire ants in my organic garden?

Organic Mound Drenches for Fire Ants: There are several organic insecticides labeled for use as fire ant mound drenches. The most common contain spinosad or d-limonene. Two examples of liquid spinosad products are Monterey Garden Insect Spray and Ferti-Lome Borer, Bagworm, Leafminer, and Tent Caterpillar Spray.
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Can ant colonies kill plants?

Aside from their tendency to bite us, ants can cause other problems in the garden. Ants are fond of the sweet sap of host plants. A diligent group of ants chewing on a plant's stem or trunk is capable of girdling and even killing a garden plant. In addition, ants will cultivate and protect other damaging garden pests.
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How do I permanently get rid of ants outside?

The following methods have been proven to eliminate ants both outside and inside the ant nest:
  1. Boiling water. The most widely known natural ant extermination method is using boiling water. ...
  2. Dish washing liquid and oil. ...
  3. Boric acid and sugar. ...
  4. White vinegar. ...
  5. Nematodes. ...
  6. Diatomaceous earth (DE). ...
  7. Insect-repelling plants.
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