I planted raised beds using tires. Some of the seeds have sprouted and now there are ants in the beds. Last night I dusted the beds and the plants with diatomaceous earth. When I watered them this morning most of the washed off. When I came home from work tonight and checked on them the dagblasted ants are still there (actually I realize it is too soon to get rid of them with the DE). This is my very first garden. I looked in several gardening books and didn't find much except to use the diatomaceous earth. Should I put it on the beds every night, is there something else I can use? I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

Blessings

-- Judy Murray (jmurray@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu), May 25, 2000

Answers

every time you water DE becomes inactive and you have to reapply it.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), May 25, 2000.

The ants are there eating the "honeydew" from the aphids. You must rid yourself of the aphids before the ants will leave

-- Grant Eversoll (thegrange@earthlink.net), May 26, 2000.

There aren't any other bugs, I looked all around and these plants are less than a week old. I just bought this soil last week and planted the seeds last Thursday. There are ants around in the yard, but I didn't see any where I put the tire beds. I put cardboard down with newspaper on top and then placed the tires on top of that and filled them with a couple of kinds of soil. The top part I filled with some super duper Miracle Gro potting soil. Thanks for any input.

Blessings

-- Judy Murray (jmurray@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu), May 26, 2000.

Judy, if your plants have just sprouted, the ants are just there because they can be. Possibly they were in some of the soil you put in the tires, but most likely they've come in from the garden. Your planting beds are ant heaven. Easy to work soil with just the right amount of moisture.

It is messy, but you could try painting a band of Tanglefoot around the lower outside of your tires. Any aphids they're working will pretty much die off without the ants. If the ants have got hills inside the tires, go ahead with the DE-just make sure it is the insecticidal stuff, not swimming pool filter DE. You might try boiling up a kettle of water, opening up the hill with a trowel, and quickly pouring the water in. Your plants sound small enough that their roots wouldn't be too badly hurt by the water. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 27, 2000.