Is it true that self-rising cornmeal is a good non-chemical treatment for fireants?
cornmeal and fireants
Haven't heard that, but I know that dried molasses will work. We apply beneficial nematodes twice a year and that does the trick for us. We even spray a little bit on the neighbor's yard on both sides of us and it helps all of us!
Stephanie
I have read that cornmeal doesn't work.
Grits don't work either. Instant or regular. I tried both several times.
Okay, time to show my ignorance...For dried molasses, where to I find it? Are my dogs going to eat it? Will it make them dig, etc? And if they do ingest it, will it make them sick? I hear it is good for all kinds of things, but haven't used it yet. I know that certain things I have put down have driven the hounds crazy. Fish emulsion gives them overwhelming desire to roll on whatever plant was watered with it. Fresh mulch can often be a temptation, etc.
Also, where do you get the nematodes? I have heard about that several times and it may be just the thing I need. Most of our ant mounds appear in my flowerbeds. Guess they think it was really kind of me to cultivate the earth for them. I find it highly annoying when I go to dig and all of a sudden, the entire earth is moving around.
Thanks.
You can get dried molasses and nematodes at an organic gardening center. If your dogs ingest the molasses, it won't hurt them at all. In fact, many ranchers feed it to their livestock. However, your dogs may get bit by ants if they get too close to those mounds and that's a whole 'nother problem!
If you don't know of an organic nursery in town, check out this link. http://www.dirtdoctor.com/advance_business_listings.php?proceed=1&searchtext=houston&search=Search
I put dried molasses on my compost pile for the worms. But thought, 'Wonder what would happen if I put it on the 3 ft mountain of shredded wood and leaf material?".
It brought the ants WAY UP into the pile. They loved it!
Good thing the neighboors weren't home when I went running for the water hose and started shucking clothing.
No bites, but the fireants covered my shoes, socks, and pants from the knees down.
Lowe's now carries dried molasses, at least my local one does.
Crow
I found nematodes at my local HD, they also carry ladybugs and preying mantis. Both are packaged by Ladies in Red. The only problem i see is that they do not refrigerate them like they are supposed to. I bought my nematodes on the day they delivered them, but the ladybugs didnt look so good. Ladies in Red website is
http://www.ladiesinred.com/
I bought a shipment of ladybugs from Gardens Alive - when I turned then loose, most left my yard for other sites. Called them,and they sent another batch with instruction about when and how to release them. I have had some in the garden ever since.
I get dried molasses and nematodes from my local feedstore. Neither has worked on fire ant control, but we live on one huge anthill. The nematodes did take care of a borer problem I had!