skip to main content

Organic Gardening

Citrex Fire Ant Killer

16 years ago

Anyone know if I can plant corn seed shortly after treating a mound with this particular product??? Google search not producing answers for me.

Thanks!

Michelle

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
Yes, you may plant at any time when using Citrex.
shellva
Original Author
16 years ago
rhizo, Have you used this product? how well did it work if you have?
Related Discussions
Citrex Fire Ant killer ?
Q
Comments (5)
Michelle I also had fire ants inside my raised beds, and ended up using Spectracide's "Once and Done" after taking some other steps first. I read many warnings about NOT using fire ant killers on fire ants that are in the garden because the vegetables can absorb the poisons if put there directly or if fire ants bring it back to the mounds in the garden from elsewhere. So I heavily watered the beds every day for about 3 days, which drove them away from the mounds. They'll leave if they're often flooded. Then I "painted" orange oil, a fire ant repellant (which also kills them by dissolving their exoskeletons if sprayed directly on their bodies) on all the surfaces of the raised bed framework. I didn't allow any of the orange oil to get on the soil since it also kills earthworms and vegetation. It took only about four days to drive them out of the beds so they didn't return, but they set up mounds not too far away. THAT's when I used the chemical, scattered it around the mounds. A lot of trouble, yes, but I was so concerned about poisoning my vegetables and us that it seemed the best way. Now my beds are fire ant free.
...See More
Organic Ant killer/repellent
Q
Comments (22)
I used to use Boric Acid, but don't anymore. I now use Insectigone for Ants, a diotomaceous earth product. Being non-toxic, it can be used around wildlife, pets, children, plants, etc. Three weeks ago, before the continous rainfall we've had since then here in the east, we noticed 3 nests close to our home, one of them but 2 feet from the foundation right in the middle of of a perennial flower bed. We applied the DE in all areas and in 3 days there was no activity in any of the nests and there was a lot of dead ants. I would highly recommend this product. It is not an 'instant' killer, but it really does the job for us. We have a log home and ants are always a concern. Every spring we use the DE around the foundation of our home, and then reapply in the mid-summer. Last summer we had a serious problem in our pump room in the basement, but we got rid of it in about 4 days with the DE and there's been no signs of it since. Hubby had run out of DE when applying it and a corner had been left without treatment. In this area we actually used it both inside and out. Here is a link that might be useful: Diatomacious Earth.
...See More
Non=Toxic Ant killer
Q
Comments (4)
I'm not sure what supporting data you're looking for. I have used it myself on fire ants and black ants in Arizona. It worked. I've recommended it to friends, it worked for them too. I guess the molasses and sugar attract the ants, the yeast kills them when it expands. Please feel free to clarify your question, if this isn't the data you're looking for.
...See More
Grass in the Strawberry Bed Again!!!!!!
Q
Comments (2)
Ilene, I am going to start with the ants, because they a huge problem in and of themselves. I am assuming the ants we are discussing are fire ants? I try to garden as organically as possible, but controlling fire ants has been one of the areas for which the organic community has had lots of 'possible' solutions......and none of them worked well for me in the past. I've tried everything from beneficial nematodes to orange oil sprays (Citrex Fire Ant killer), corn meal, grits, garlic-pepper sprays, cedar oil, cedar mulch, mint tea, dried mint leaves, etc. I have FINALLY found an organic product that works for me in terms of removing fire ants from the raised beds in the veggie garden. The active ingredient is called Serenade and it is effective not only on fire ants but also is very effective when sprayed on tomato plants to reduce foliar fungal and bacterial diseases. The Serenade I use on the tomato plants comes in a spray bottle. The Seremade I use on fire ants comes in a granular formation. I buy the one made by Safer and I think it is called Safer Fire Ant Killer. I have used it this year in my raised beds and it has worked for me. In the yard area, away from any place that we grow veggies, tree nuts or fruits, I use Over 'N Out. It is amazing. I only have to use it once every 3 or 4 years. I don't like using chemicals, but will use them if needed and IF they provide the desired results. Over 'N Out does work but you cannot use it near anything edible, and it has a long half-life in the soil, so you can't use it in any area where you will eventually grow something edible. Now, as to the strawberry issues. I think the best plan is to start over with a new bed so that you can begin with NO grass in it. The problem with bermuda grass is that if you leave any stolon that is at least 1/4" long, it will grow and spread and RAPIDLY at that. That is why no amount of digging will get it all....there is always that tiny stray piece here and there that will regrow. If it were me, I would spray the area where the new bed will be with Round-Up or a similar glyphosate and give it time to work. I would lay down either cardboard or several layers of newspaper to help smother any grass that tried to regrow and lay down the good-quality heavy-duty weedblock fabric on top of that. I would build the bed on top of that. You DO need to have the fabric extend outside the edging of the bed or grass will creep up INSIDE between the fabric and bed edging. If it were me, I would extend the fabric out a foot or two from the bed, cover it with mulch, and maintain it as a pathway around the raised bed. At the edge of the fabric, I would use that metal green landscape edging to keep grass from creeping into the mulched path AND to help keep the mower from hitting the edge of the fabric or the mulch. It is a lot of extra work, but as you already know, it is easier to prevent bermuda grass than it is to remove it once it infiltrates an area. As far as holding the strawberries over in the fridge or freezer, I don't know how long they can be held in cold storage, but I think it is possible to hold them for months, although perhaps not desirable. I made the decision years ago (after growing strawberries) that growing strawberries in our climate required more time and effort than I was willing to give them in light of the fact that I have a huge veggie garden, fruit trees, nut trees and lots of acreage to maintain. You may want to consider whether strawberries are worth the time and money you will have to invest in them in comparison to the size of the harvest you get. On the other hand, if growing your own gives you great joy, then go for it! Dawn
...See More
Kimmsr
16 years ago
Since the active ingrediant in Citrex is citrus oil there should be no problem with planting shortly after application. If this is not addressed on the label (which it should be) contact the manufacturer.
shellva
Original Author
16 years ago
Nope, it's not addressed on the label. Not much of anything was addressed on the label actually. Just the basic don't swollow, get in eyes, wash hands, this many oz for that much water.

I was a bit disappointed in the label but desperate. NO stores in my area are offering Fire Ant products that can be used in the vegetable garden, not even the big box ones.

I had heard that orange oil was an organic product for them so I went ahead and bought the Citrex regardless of the lousy label.

My fire ant bites are itching :(
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
shellva, I have not used the Citrex, but it's certainly worthy of a try. At the very least, your fire ants will vacate the veggie garden territory and move on to another part of the yard so that you can use Amdro. ;-)

Try this for the stings: keep a container of Adolph's Meat Tenderizer on you when working around those darned ants. Sprinkle some on the sting as soon as you can, and rub it in. Works like a charm for me, very little burning and itching, and no big bumps at the sting site.
shellva
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Rhizo for the meat tenderizer tip. I'll have to invest in some I guess. Found another mound out in the middle of the yard today. sigh

Well, so far every place I have poured the Citrex the ants are gone but I think I'm only chasing them from spot to spot, no serious ant destruction. grrrr

Michelle
dchall_san_antonio
16 years ago
How many Camden's are there? Are you in NJ and getting fire ants? I thought they liked warmer weather.

I treat the mounds with 3 ounces of molasses in a gallon of water. I drench the mound with half of it and sprinkle the rest around the area around the mound. You can use table sugar if you don't have molasses. This does not directly kill the ants but it does seem to scatter them so much that they do not reform. If they do reform, repeat the sugar water drench.

The citrus oil should kill them directly.
Kimmsr
16 years ago
New Jersey, Maine, South Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvainia. and probably many other places beside England.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
The problem is that these colonies are so deep and so large, that contact killers will never get to the queen(s). That's why the baits are effective.

There is an organic ant bait with Spinosad as the active ingredient. I've not used it myself, but have heard good things about it from those that have. It can be used directly in a veggie garden. Apparently, several companies are manufacturing thier own brand so you'll need to hunt for that active ingredient.

Yeah, in which Camden do you live? There's one in practically (seemingly) every state in the country, lol! I assumed SC because of your zone.
shellva
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi everyone! Add one more state with a Camden....North Carolina. We are located on the coast just south of the Virginia (Hampton Roads) line.

The citrex did kill out right but I know at this point they are just moving around the yard. I have 9 lbs. of Green Light with Conserve on order. I wish it would hurry up and get here already!

Gardening in the veggie area is a unique experience anymore. I am missing the days before fire ants. It's just not fair! I have bermuda grass, nutsedge, mosquitoes, Japanese beetles, squash vine borers, cucumber beetles, some kind of potato beetle and now let's just add fire ants to the mix!

You know, gardeners are either very tough, insane or both! lol

Michelle
mrteam
15 years ago
shellva,
Did you succeed in destroying the fire ants? I live in Newport, NC on the Coastal Plain and after moving here from Virginia, I found some of the same challenges you did. I kill the fire ants in my garden and yard with spinosad. I tried Conserve in the winter on the warmer days when the temps were above 65 degrees but it never worked. When the weather warmed up in the spring, I used the Garden Safe brand that I got at Walmart and it works in 24 hours. Dead colony and Queeny. I'm not sure if it is the brand or the warmer temps. Pure D-Limonene (Orange Oil) sprayed with a sprayer worked in the yard in the winter with a couple applications and looked like it was slowly working after repeated sessions in the raised bed of the veggie garden. The raised bed colony was the worst to eliminate. Before Garden Safe I tried every "solution" I could find in the forum or by googling. Boiling water worked with new colonies in the yard, but not in the raised bed. Flooding with hundreds of gallons of water for many days did nothing. They laughed at Cayenne and Paprika. Diatomaceous Earth seemed to irritate them if sprinkled directly on them. The next day they danced on it. They ignored Sugar water solution completely. The best one was daily applications of human urine. The wife really like that one. :) It drove them deeper for a few days and they held their noses.
User
8 years ago
Just an FYI - Worcestershire sauce applied liberally to fire ant bites immediately will kept them from blistering and stop the itch. You may need to apply a couple of times. I am trying to find a fire ant killer that will not hurt birds and will work for organic gardening. Does Citrix work? has anyone tried Green Lite?

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Bid Bad Garden Bugs Goodbye and Usher In the Good

By Matt Kilburn

Give ants their marching orders and send mosquitoes moseying, while creating a garden that draws pollinators and helpful eaters

BUDGET DECORATING 9 Tricks to Boost Your Home’s Appeal for Less Than $400

By Propia Limited

Whether you’re redecorating or just doing a quick update, check out these ways to enhance your home on a budget

FIREPLACES Design Workshop: Smart Ways to Store Wood Outdoors

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Consider size, location, protection, air circulation and, of course, style for storing your firewood

GARDENING GUIDES How to Switch to an Organic Landscape Plan

By Falon Mihalic

Ditch the chemicals for a naturally beautiful lawn and garden, using living fertilizers and other nontoxic treatments

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops

By Marianne Lipanovich

This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Porch Life: Banish the Bugs

By Becky Harris

Don't let insects be the bane of your sweet tea and swing time. These screening and product ideas will help keep bugs at bay on the porch

WINTER GARDENING 6 Reasons I’m Not Looking Forward to Spring

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Not kicking up your heels anticipating rushes of spring color and garden catalogs? You’re not alone

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Gardening for the Bees, and Why It’s a Good Thing

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

When you discover how hard bees work for our food supply, you may never garden without them in mind again

FIREPLACES Find a Fitting Place to Store Your Firewood

By The Inman Company

Fuel warm and snuggly nights at home by including a spot for logs in your fireplace design

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

Sponsored

More Discussions

where to find china doll dahlia

3

Help: Hollies Transplanted with Very Small Root Balls

11

Can I replace fertilizer with horse feed?

12

Anyone ever buy Earthworms to add to your garden?

3

Composted manure vs gardens and shellfish compost

6