I have killed huge fire ant mounds by using the used coffee grounds that Starbucks gives away for free. After experimenting with these used coffee grounds for 8 years, I have found all kinds of interesting uses for them. Mainly as a direct contact spray, I can take care of all the insects I have problems with, and I have 40,000 plants. I found that the coffee spray will not kill ants, but they ARE repelled by the used coffee grounds. This may take a little practice, but I take the used coffee grounds and mix them with enough water that they turn into mud. I put a thin layer of mud all over the mound, and I found out the trick is to cover another 4 inches farther than the mound because they try to tunnel out under the coffee mud. The only thing I can figure is that they refuse to dig through the coffee, and when they can't go out and feed the mound, the colony dies. One way or another, it kills the mounds. This is hard to do when you collect your own grounds, bit you can get so much at one time at Starbucks when you go at the right time of day. Sometimes, I have come away with about 60 pounds of used coffee grounds when I ask them for the bag they are filling behind the counter. On another note, try experimenting with coffee repelling ants and other insects. Like if you had a small garden, you could pour a barrier of grounds around the perimeter of the garden to keep them away. The barrier would also keep out mealy bugs, scales, aphids, and even spider mites. I never got to finish a formal experiment, but I would bet money that used coffee grounds would get rid of chinch bugs in the lawn as well.

It is my understanding that Tree Tanglefoot will keep the fire ants off of your okra. Had the same problem last year (with no aphids). It can be purchased at Wal-Mart. It is a sticky substance that you smear around the stem of the okra in a band about 1-1/2" wide near the base. The ants cannot go past it to your pods. If you have a dead or drooping limb on your plant that is touching the ground, cut it off as it can provide a way for the fire ants to by-pass the Tanglefoot. Make sure you wear latex or nitrile gloves when applying the Tanglefoot as it is a very sticky substance. You may have to re-apply after a rain. This information came from an organic farmer so I suppose it is an organic product. A 15-oz. tub can be purchased for about $15.00 (you can get it for less at some on-line outlets). Other uses include tree repair, use as a pruning paste, or you can buy some tape to wrap around the tree on which to smear the paste - for okra, you can forego the tape and just apply directly to the stem. It is made from natural gum resins, vegetable oil, and wax. I'm going to use it this year.

Hey there, I had the same problem as you in my mothers old house. You see, my mom took all of the carpet out of her house and painted the concrete underneath. So what happend was, because she took out the carpet, the floor wasnt as sturdy, so every summer we would have ants all over the house. In th kitchen, the bedrooms, the family room. they were everywhere and it was discusting. So what we did was we use duct tape to patch the holes were the ants were able to get in. Then after a couple hours of covering up the holes with the tape you take it off and you spray ant sray in the holes. Then you pour hydrogen poroxide in the holes and i swear they will be gone asap. i know it sounds stupid but trust me it works!

Ants, usually are not a problem in gardens, although there are a few species in some parts of the USA that certain species could. None of those have adapted to New York, yet. Contrary to what many think ants are not often a problem in any garden. Ants are part of Ma Natures recycling machine and while they may clean up dead earthworms they do not, at least up north, kill them. kimmq is kimmsr