How do you keep weeds and fire ants out of your flower bed?

Question

we have red mulch in our flower beds and the weeds penetrate so easily what can I use to stop this.I bet I have bought gallons of roundup and sprayed and sprayed. What is good to use on ant beds as well.

Answer 1

There is an old saying in gardening... "One year's seeds is worth seven years weeds." The best way to stop weeds is to prevent them from setting seed in the first place. Pull them before they flower, and don't turn your soil over to reveal "new" seeds that have laid dormant deeper in the soil. Weed seeds usually only germinate in the top two inches of soil.

However, weeds spread in other ways... certain grasses spread under the soil by sending out runners in much the same way strawberries do. So, a border that blocks runners might be effective.

You mention using mulch... generally the thicker the better, but, sometimes you need to accomplish a specific goal... like eradicating weeds. Several layers of wet newspaper will smother weed seeds and seedlings, and you can plant sets or bulbs through it. Still use your compost and/or bark mulch on top of it.

Using Roundup is fine... but it may be selecting the hardiest weeds to survive and grow in your beds... I'd steer clear of it... at least for awhile... one or two growing seasons. Use of a flame weeder can be effective as it kills EVERYTHING, but can be dangerous if used on a bed near flammable things, like bushes.... or, say, a house!

I have no real experience with fire ants, so they may sneer at this product... I use diotomaceous earth. To an ant, it's like walking on broken glass... very nasty! It has the advantage of being largely inert... it can be irritating if inhaled, so exercise caution in its application. It does need to be applied frequently, especially after a rain or very heavy dew. I have torched nests that were not too close to my house in the past... a small amount (2 cups) of gasoline poured on the nest and lit... and tended until it's extinguished... then doused with two or three buckets of water... ususally does the trick... but, again, is not practical if near important things that can catch on fire...

I hope some of this helps!

Answer 2

Andro, or Amdro is a good thing for fire ants, but you have to follow the directions exactly. You should be able to get it at Wal-Mart. I'm from Louisiana, so I can tell you about fire ants. The Andro or Amdro (can't remember the name exactly) will only work on the ant hill itself. You put it on the hill, then pour like a gallon of water on the hill right then. It "melts" the poison, and the water makes like a mud, effectively sealing the top of the ant hill, cutting off fresh air and sending a poison gas to the entire ant hill below. Has worked many many times for me. Try it. Best of luck to you.