Ants

[jjbday]

Hey everyone, we have a ton of ants in our yard, I don't know why. They seem to take over all of our fruit trees. Does anyone know of any ways to get rid of them w/o chemicals. We haven't used anything on our trees yet and we would like to keep it that way.
Thanks

 

[gratus fermentatio]

They might be going for aphids, ants will often "farm" aphids for the "honeydew" they excrete. Check your fruit trees for aphids. You could also use ant traps, Terro works really well for me. If you're determined to stay chemical free, try the biological angle:
http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/pest-solver-guide-ants/20
Regards, GF.

 

[Shakybones]

A wide, thick layer of grease around the base of each tree might stop them, or at least piss them off for a bit. Eventually, they will just climb over the stuck bodies of their buddies, though.

No other ideas. If you do go chemical, I'd target the ants (apply to the mound), rather than the trees. They make baits that the ants will carry back home with them, which can be pretty effective.

Best of luck!

+1 on the aphids, look up biological controls

 

[m_c_zero]

Mint oil is supposed to be lethal to insects...

 

[Zuljin]

 

[terrapinj]

you can try placing a ring of diatomaceous earth around the base of the trees

 

[m3n00b]

you can try placing a ring of diatomaceous earth around the base of the trees

This. Also ladybugs will eat them and aphids.

http://www.ecosmart.com/

That stuff is non-tox and I use around my animals all the time. I get it at home depot.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Hey everyone, we have a ton of ants in our yard, I don't know why. They seem to take over all of our fruit trees. Does anyone know of any ways to get rid of them w/o chemicals. We haven't used anything on our trees yet and we would like to keep it that way.
Thanks

Anteaters. Just avoid the blue ones, they are the least effective.

 

[Zuljin]

Anteaters. Just avoid the blue ones, they are the least effective.

If you take only one piece of advice here, please take this one.

You have a video phone, right? Because I'd love to watch you putting anteaters up a tree.

 

[landshark]

Sorry, this is all I could think about.

 

[philber]

I like the ant eater advice

I get a lot of ants in the spring coming into the house and I use a lid with borax water and sugar. Ants take that back to the hive and spread it around and it eats away at their shell.

I have also read that ants hate mint oil and cinnamon powder.

 

[427Cobra]

You could try splashing base of tree with vinegar. They supposedly hate the smell.

 

[kh54s10]

Fire would work but would probably not be too good for the fruit trees.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Because I'd love to watch you putting anteaters up a tree.

For that, you do want the blue one.

Or, any other species of tree dwelling anteaters.

 

[feinbera]

Vinegar works because the acetic acid dissolves the scent trails the ants leave to lead their friends to sources of food. It's great when they find their way into your house, but it's no more than a short-term fix in your case, because you can't remove or ant-proof the food source. Even without trails to follow, they'll eventually wander back up the trees, re-discover whatever's tasty up there, and blaze a new scent trail.