Hi Julia; If they are the small ants, I have had them abd they really have never bothered anything in my garden. Larger ones I really don't know because I haven't had them.
Myself, I just let the be. I don't know about using the antblock around my plants, I try not to use chemicals. Hope this helps.

Jack

the only thing I know about ants in the garden, is that they like to "herd" aphids. Because they eat the sweet sticky dew that the aphids leave behind while they are chewing on your plants. Im not sure about the ant block though. I don't think I would put it too close to the plants, after all that stuff does kill things. Good luck! -Jessica

I had the same problem a couple of years ago. They were medium ants and they had their ant hill at the crown. It didn't look serious at the time so I ignored it. It didn't take long for the hill to grow into a mound. Once that happens your crowns are now buried too deep.

I tried all the non-toxic methods (digging away the mound, borax, bait, etc.) In the end I dug up the daylilies, cleaned the roots right off as if I were going to ship them and then replanted the clump elsewhere. Once you have the plant out of the way you can get hard core with the colony if need be. I wouldn't replant on that site until you are 100% sure that your problem is gone.

I am currently on my last product attempt to get rid of my ants. If it doesn't work I'm calling in the exterminators (I have about 40-50 colonies currently at work in my yard & gardens).

MJ

Have you tried making a mixture of sugar, water and boric acid crystals, pouring it into jar lids and setting them near the ant mounds?

Nancy

I'd say it depends on the type of ants and how bad they are. Out here in ol' Texas, we have BAD red fire ants. They are one of two things I kill with chemicals (bait). It is really because they bite (and it is a nasty one... lemme tell ya). But, they also dig under the plants - causing air pockets. My daylilies don't do well with air pockets under them. If they are digging under the daylilies (you'll have to dig and look), then I would try to remove them from the beds.

Nancy: No I haven't tried that mixture. I googled boric acid and this is what it says. Is this the mixture your talking about?
"Boric acid is generally considered to be safe to use in household kitchens to control cockroaches and ants. Homemade ant bait can be made by dissolving 1 teaspoon (5 mL) powdered boric acid and 10 teaspoons (50 mL) sugar into 2 cups (500 mL) of water; this mixture can then be absorbed into cotton balls which are left near ant trails. This reportedly will be carried back into the ants' nest, decimating or even completely wiping out the colony".

So instead of cotton balls your suggesting I put it in jar lids near the nests?

Julia

I heard cornmeal works also, sprinkle some around the ant mounds. It swells when digested. I have yet to try it. I had a Tammy day and bought corn starch instead of meal! I have too many dogs to put down bait. Glad you brought up the ?, I was wondering myself.

Tammy

Tammy: Cornmeal? Won't it hurt birds too?

Julia

Yes, be very careful what you use if you have pets. I have 2 cats and 1 dog. One concoction I found on the internet recommended adding peanut butter to the bait. Ha! I have a dog that LOVES peanut butter - so no, that one won't work for me.

I am currently using a commercial product that has boric acid as it's main ingredient along with a sweetener. I have done 3x3 squares of parchment paper (could use wax paper), placed them on the ant patch (I have 12-18" diameter sand circles in my lawn) and placed a small rock on top (to keep the wind from taking them away) that creates a depression on the paper. I let a couple drop hit the rock and then puddle under the rock. The ants can squeeze in there to get the bait but the cats can't.

This only works on dry days. If it rains you'll have to start again. I had it all set up yesterday, then it poured. Freak thunderstorm. Had to start over today. I'm testing on 16 of 40 or 50 colonies that are in the lawn.

My commercial product sounds very similar to that already described. It would be cheaper to brew up your own. I tried my own last year with honey instead of sugar. It didn't work for me but I may have given up too soon.

BTW, ants are good for Peonies (almost necessary) and a couple of other plants but I can't think of any reason they would benefit a daylily.

Cornmeal will not harm birds. It is used in some bird treats. Ants just can't digest it. Do a web search- ants and cornmeal, you will see a lot of homemade remedies and quite a few people that use cornmeal. Don't know if its true but some people say it helps get rid of plant fungus. I found it very interesting. It's a good read. Good luck

Tammy

Ants... Ive been through this a million times. And i have RED FIRE ANTS they build huge mounds, especially in the beds because they are raised and stay dry. But ive tried everything, AMDRO, ORGANIC ANT BAIT, TRAPS THINGS, CORNMEAL (aka-grits down here) BOILING WATER. Its all pooo! lol No offence to anyone who has decent results with it, the best results ive had were with expensive chemicals from Sacs (feed and seed here) and two other methods. Ive taken shovels of other ant hills and dumped them onto each of the problem hills, they are seperate and competing colonies, they fight it out and kill each other. I like this method, no chemicals, no money, just some elbow grease. My grandmother prefers gasoline and matches, she pours the gas on lets it soak in then stirs the dirt, and lights a match, i know its kinda sadistic, and well gas is high, but i cross my heart she does it, and swears by it.