Does anyone know if it's too late to put out the corn gluten for a pre-emergent? What do you use that might be better and less expensive?
corn gluten
It probably is too late for the corn gluten meal. Ideally, you want to do it in the fall and then again in late winter (February).
Actually, no it's not too late, however I highly recommend it be ORGANIC corn meal GLUTEN that you put on instead of the horticultural, as it works much better! You can also add this to your plants. Don't forget the Texas green sand as it add nutrients also! Did you know that dried molasses keeps the fire ants away?!!! It does!!! :0)
Greensand adds Potasium (K) to your soil. The third # on fertilizer is Potassium. That is the only element in my area that already exists, and it's on the high side. Becareful adding stuff you don't need.....it could make the problem worse.
Texas greensand is one of my top three organic products because it contributes iron (better than Ironite). That's very helpful where the soil is alkaline. Cindy, the dry molasses not only didn't work for me, but we had every housefly within 100 miles in our yard for a week. The way we got rid of fire ants (and fleas and ticks and chiggers and grubs and harmful nematodes) is beneficial nematodes. Pricey but well worth it.
I was listening to an Organic Gardening Show and they said if Potassium is high to not use GS that you can get the other nutrients elsewhere. Having too much isn't good either. Only you know what your soil has in it. Mine is low in N and P but high in K.
I guess I got lucky as it worked for the most part to rid the fire ants.
What helped get rid of fire ants in my yard was to build up a healthy soil ecosystem. I did use molasses, as part of that. And no doubt the beneficial nemotodes that thrive in the healthy soil is a big part of that as well. I have heard/read that fire ants don't like competition and that seems to be true in my yard now (fingers crossed). I have native ants (and I leave them alone), but the fire ants seem to prefer my neighbors' yards.
Carla
I haven't had fire ants since my ex moved out. He was contantly fighting them and I didn't. But now I have a snail and slug problem.
Drown snails and slugs in beer traps. (don't remember the exact how to on this)
I still haven't managed to get a soil test. Home Depot didn't have one, I have been working long hours and haven't gotten to lowes yet.