Ants are killing my trees by getting under the bark. How do I stop it?

Question

I have sprayed ant poisons around the base around the place where the ants go underneath the bark and up the trail of ants. They are attacking my Poplar and my Catalpa Trees. Both are showing signs of leaf branches that are dieing and dropping off the trees. I have fertilized the trees but it hasn't helped to stop the process of the ants.

Answer 1

Today, I read in Good Housekeeping Magazine --July issue--for ants use boric acid or borax powder. For inside of the house--mix this with equal parts of flour, cornmeal, or sugar. They will carry it back to thier nest, eat it and die. (Keep away from children and animals)

Answer 2

Catalpa Tree Bark

Answer 3

~Cut down the trees, burn them and dig out the roots. You are simply propogating the problem so the ant colony can grow and expand to your neighbor's yard. Not to mention the immunity you are helping the ants to develop againts the poisons you are dumping into the water table. You can replant after the ants die off or migrate.
Ants have been here a lot longer than man, and they'll be around long after man is gone. They do a lot more to help the natural enviornmental and evolutionary processes than man ever will.

Answer 4

We pour used oil from cars around the base of cedar trees to keep ticks from climbing the trees. It seems like that might work for ants also and it has never hurt any of our trees so you might give it a try.

Answer 5

I know that chalk keeps ants away. draw circles around where you want them to stay out of. I hope you get this resolved, good luck.

Answer 6

Have you tried diatomaeous earth? Makes them explode from the inside. Completely natural and harmless to people and pets.

Answer 7

Get a little ant machine gun and do drive by's