ANTS EVERYWHERE:-(

Is anyone inundated w/ ants in the garden?? They are all over the cucumber, corn and veggies. The bottom side of the cucumber leaves look almost solid black....stems, flowers, leaves, everywhere! Is this a problem for production? Should I let them be? I've lots of flowers and beginning fruit.
Thanks, Lehua

Do you have aphids on the plants too or is it just the ants? If you have aphids, I would start with a strong jet from the hose to dislodge the ants and the aphids, you may need to repeat this regularly for a while but it should get things under control. I think insecticidal soap is probably safe to use on veggies too. Even if it's just the ants I'd try hosing them off but often having lots of ants around means you also have aphids (the ants like to "farm" the aphids because they enjoy the honeydew that the aphids produce)

I don't have an ant problem as much as the flies this year. Put those ugly sticky things up and they're catching them but of course, not all. Anybody got a sure fire way to get rid of them on my patio? I can't even work in the garden without being attacked by a biting one here and there.

Put a nice piece of stinky rotting smelly something about 20 feet away from the patio to distract them? Sorry, no real ideas! I wonder if they sell traps for them like they do for yellow jackets?

LOL, I don't think that will work! The fly tape is getting alot of them but of course not all. Thanks anyway!

Do those electronic zappers work for flies?

We have noseeums and little gnats that drive us nuts - and once a year or so big horseflies. We always wear hats in the garden (no shade like you have, Weegy) and we spray the hats with a natural repellent. If they are bad, I'll spritz my clothes/boots, too.

My mom and sister in Oregon swear by dryer softener sheets - I stick one in my pocket or waistband and that seems to help, too. I keep a box in the garage just for that purpose. When they have picnics, they go around sticking them on tree branches and/or on the tables where they're eating.

Citronella? Does that work on flies? Smells nice, too.

I remember reading that certain herbs discourage insects. I bet you could tuck lots of herbs amongst the other things around your patio that might help.

Hope something helps.

Edited to add: Try this thread - http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/384177/



This message was edited Jul 16, 2007 10:21 AM

Thanks Kathleen...you know I don't know if it's just not humid anymore but those fly strips seem to be reducing the fly population on the patio. I now have 4 hung on the patio and don't have the flies all over me like before. Thanks honey!
I heard fabric softener sheets work for mosquitos too. hmmmm trying for the pesky flies.

Glad they are working. Reminds me I have to put some yellow sticky traps out - darn white fly!

I've also heard that hanging plastic bags with water deters flies, don't see the logic in that but I'm going to try it!

Weegy....I was just going to post about the bags of water....we did it when we had dinner outside at the KY RU a few years ago....it helped a lot.

Also, over at Tombstone....where the doors are open a lot...you'll see about every store/resturant have these bags of water.....I don't know WHY they work...but they seem to. Jo

Interesting concept-can they get into the bags and drown?

No....they can't get in the baggie...it's sealed...I sometimes think that they see their reflection in the water...magnified...and decide to fly another direction....Hmmmm....would that work? LOL Jo

Jo, what kind of plastic bags do they use, I heard shopping bags but everyone I put water in had holes, tried a ziploc, no luck. Thanks Jo.

They just use the sandwich size baggies....zip-lock type. HMMM Darius was the one that came up with this at the KY RU to deter flies that year they were so bad....but I had seen them used in Tombstone a lot. Jo

OK I Googled for info....scroll down about half way to see about the water bags...and she did think it was because of their reflection....Jo

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf851815.tip.html

Interesting reading Jo, thanks and thanks to Darius. I never thought of them being deterred by their reflection...who thinks of these things?!?!!? My dd used to live in a highly hispanic neighborhood, they all had plastic bags hanging outside, she always wondered why and since she didn't speak spanish, she couldn't ask anyone. Very interesting concept, thanks again Jo.

Water bottles in your yard are supposed to work the same way for dogs.

I knew that about jugs of water to keep dogs from doing their business on their lawn, but now I know the reasoning behind it! Thanks everyone!