Thanks jellyman. In 15 years of gardening, reading hundreds of gardening books and magazines, hours upon hours on the internet, a college horticulture class, working for a nursery for a season, I have never, ever heard what she is claiming to be true. I normally let people walk around believing what they want but when she tried to tell this myth to my son's girlfriend, well now I can't let it go! Michelle

Darn! I've used the pellets with success for a long time, and the meal in desperation when the pellets couldn't be found, but never noticed fire ants! Maybe it's my Zone - hot, windy, 4-seasons, etc. Molasses? What a waste, eh!

I am also new to dahlias this year, and have several large tubers in the ground as well as smaller ones in containers. At the beginning of the summer, I had a horrible ant problem as well. They were eating the leaves leaving gross little white egg looking things on the stems. Anyway, I bought a can of insect powder called Selvin and dusted it over the dahlias. The ants returned several weeks later and I dusted again. Now, about two months later, I haven't had any more problems and the plants are doing very well!!!

I know this is a very old thread but I found it searching for info about a pink diamond I just bought. It's been sitting in my front yard waiting for landscapers. Thankfully, I had time to observe it. It is covered with flies, wasps, hornets, and all kinds of zipping and buzzing insects by the hundreds. I drove around looking for others and sure enough they were all buzzing with insects. Now, I plant beds for pollinators. I garden organically- no herbicides/pesticides- not even on my lawn. I fully support the philosophy that all life matters. I wouldn't use anything that would kill the little buzzards. They're only doing their jobs. But this tree scared my kids and I had planned to use it for some shade near a future gazebo. I know that it will make my guests uncomfortable in the location I had planned for it. This is not a hydrangea for anyone who will be bothered (or terrified) by buzzing insects with the potential to deliver quite a sting. Sadly, I decided to return it. Just wanted to share this experience so another person didn't make the same mistake. Now, I'm on the hunt for a very small, non-flowering tree to beautify my landscape. :)