Ants in the raised beds - Page 3

RayR · May 18, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by heirloomtomaguy

I know right i was always under the impression it was safe on veggies. Maybe Safer brand has some extra ingredient that can not be used directly on plants.

No, there is nothing in it other than DE. Check their web site and their OMRI certificate.

feldon30 · May 18, 2014

DE is one step from powdered sand. I cannot understand why anyone would say it is "not safe for a fruit/vegetables". You definitely don't want to breathe it, but scattered on the soil around your plants, it will cut up the ants as they try to crawl over it.

Can't speak to Amdro. I read the MSDS and based on the description it does not look particularly toxic. I absolutely use Amdro on the grass, but stick with DE and coffee grounds for the garden beds, or better yet, I put the kettle on.

Redbaron · May 18, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by heirloomtomaguy

I know right i was always under the impression it was safe on veggies. Maybe Safer brand has some extra ingredient that can not be used directly on plants.

No It is simply a factor of how the stuff works. Put it on fruiting plants and the pickers come along and inhale the dust. That's how it kills bugs. Sharp thingies poke and plug the insects "lungs". It won't hurt our skin, it even is edible, but is an irritant to eyes and lungs. So it would hurt the fruit pickers breathing in the dust.

As it turns out for a small garden or just 1 or two pesky anthills, it is completely harmless to people. But can you imagine picking a 20 acre field of tomatoes just after a thorough crop dusting of DE?

You'd get your lungs so choked with the stuff you couldn't breathe.

Tracydr · May 18, 2014

Really depends on the ants. Mine are a small,desert fire ant. Not the imported fire ants. But, they are agressive, bite a lot and farm aphids.
I use either the traps or a small amount of amdro outside the garden. In the house, I make peanut butter and borax traps on a plate, hidden where the dogs can't get it.
Borax is very safe for animals and people but very toxic to the soil. Don't sprinkle it on your garden!

Tracydr · May 18, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayR

Huh?

Please elaborate on what this company person said because it makes no sense to me.

Weird. You can get food grade DE from the feed store in 50 lb bags.

kurt · May 18, 2014

http://search.aol.com/aol/image?q=co...yword_rollover

This is a bit extreme,and scary.You have to get to the queens,they hardly ever exit the dens.

May 18, 2014	#32
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	DE is one step from powdered sand. I cannot understand why anyone would say it is "not safe for a fruit/vegetables". You definitely don't want to breathe it, but scattered on the soil around your plants, it will cut up the ants as they try to crawl over it. Can't speak to Amdro. I read the MSDS and based on the description it does not look particularly toxic. I absolutely use Amdro on the grass, but stick with DE and coffee grounds for the garden beds, or better yet, I put the kettle on. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

May 18, 2014	#36
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	http://search.aol.com/aol/image?q=co...yword_rollover This is a bit extreme,and scary.You have to get to the queens,they hardly ever exit the dens. __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; May 18, 2014 at 11:22 PM. Reason: original link had some questionable content(profanity)in comments section oops sorry

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May 18, 2014	#34
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Really depends on the ants. Mine are a small,desert fire ant. Not the imported fire ants. But, they are agressive, bite a lot and farm aphids. I use either the traps or a small amount of amdro outside the garden. In the house, I make peanut butter and borax traps on a plate, hidden where the dogs can't get it. Borax is very safe for animals and people but very toxic to the soil. Don't sprinkle it on your garden!