Hello Cath, Thanks..would you happen to know what ant eggs look like? Color, size? lol Well, aside from freezing, I'm okay..And you? How are you getting along? Cath, do you have Fish Emulsion on hand? I swear it kills Scale. Several years ago, the owner of Harris Citrus, Ruth and I were discussing citrus. She told me, the best way to 'prevent' and 'kill' scale was to add 1 cap of Fish Emulsion in a 16oz sprayer filled w/water. Not long after, I purchased an Olive tree, 'different online nursery.' It arrived by mail, delivered at night. I removed the tree from its box, and set in-between two citrus trees. Just so you know, I inspect plants religiously, usually while misting. For some reason I didn't get to the olive for days.. Then, while spraying, I noticed a brown bump on the olive's leaf. On closer inspection, there were a multitude of brown bumps everywhere, upper and lower leaves, stems..gross looking things..Scale. I recalled Ruth's suggestion about Fish Emulsion, made up a bottle. By the way, two neighboring citrus branches had scale up and down branches nearest the olive tree. All three plants were thoroughly sprayed. The next day, all signs of scale was gone..Every last one. I checked and rechecked all three plants. She also recommended to apply a second application a week after the first. I did as told. Cath, this happened, I believe, in 2000; never had a scale problem since. My plants are foliar sprayed w/FE twice a year. The second dose, in autumn, before plants are brought indoors. However, I must warn you, FE has a fishy smell that lingers 2-3 days. There is an odorless type, but I've never used it so don't know if it's truely odor-free. I'd rather deal with a little smell than Scale devouring my plants. lol. FE is organic, so it won't burn leaves..It's actually a fertilizer, but since organic, it doesn't burn roots either. Since I don't fertilize during winter months, I figure spraying in autumn is plants last meal of the year, and a scale preventative. If you dare, lol, try the FE. It can't hurt, right? I too can think of plenty adjectives regarding our weather but would get the boot from GW. lol.. Good luck..hope you rid those suckers..Toni

Hi ashley, It would take you quite a bit of time to read the container forum about soil composition and how small particles can clog up soil over a while, such as worm castings and coffee grinds, sand and so on. Why these are encouraged by many to keep out of pots. I would take a gander some time and see how soil works..It's awsome. But in the meantime, you need help now, and if this does work, the grinds in particular, then I would use it, if that is an only choise, better than nothing, only because you are armed with the knowledge to know what coffee grinds can do to your soil over time. So just keep and eye on your soil, and if you see that it is becoming compact, hard to water, or staying wet to long after the grinds decompose, just do a transplant with a better open and airy soil before the plant suffers. Catch it before this happens. By then, your ant problem just might be gone..:-) You armed with great info here, and you have alot of great choices do great advice from others. Just know your soil basics,and you will save future heartache for your special plants.. Know what to watch for, when it comes to your plants health declining, for almost always it is a root related do to compact soil and air space filled in with stuff usch as grinds, "over time". Goodluck.....let us know if you got rid of the ants You didn't hijack this thread, you only added to its character for the good. Your idea was great for anyone and everyone who know their soils well..:-)

All my outdoor pots had ants in them during the rainy season. I ended up sprinkling Amdro on the soil to get rid of them. It didn't seem to bother the plants, and much as I hate poison, I do everything I can to keep ants as far from the house as possible.

The ants themselves shouldnt hurt the tree...the airation of the soil will actually help the tree. But, yes the aphid problem is another issue. If you see any small flee sized bugs along the stems (particularly underneath), then you have a problem. I have successfully flooded all of my ants out by adding drip irrigation that turns on twice a day. But if you wish to kill them, which would be a good idea because flooding them will only cause them to relocated into your yard, I would suggest amdro fire ant killer. It isn't liquid so it shouldnt harm the tree (placing it around the pot will suffice). It is a poisoned bait that the ants collect and eat (carrying some to the queen which is required to erradicate the colony).