sheena Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 After many years, we finally have a lawn , but now the ants are moving in & making a huge mess. Does anybody know of a pet safe treatment for ants in lawns....I was thinking of whether Diantomaceous Earth is any good It's a huge area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Well, I swear by it. DaddyVizsla puts lots down the ant holes outside. Within 72 hours, there is a reduced number of ants around. We have also sprinkled the DE around the scrubbery as well. You need to make sure that you do get the human type of DE. Try to use this when there is low humidity and the soil is dry. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 Well, I swear by it. DaddyVizsla puts lots down the ant holes outside. Within 72 hours, there is a reduced number of ants around. We have also sprinkled the DE around the scrubbery as well. You need to make sure that you do get the human type of DE. Try to use this when there is low humidity and the soil is dry. :) Where do you buy it from ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotdashdot Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Most likely cheaper online Sheena, but if you desperately need some, my work sells 1kg and 3kg bags. Can't remember the price off the top of my head though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranga Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 It really works Sheena! You can buy it from stock feed suppliers usually :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) Where do you buy it from ??? Online from these suppliers http://www.fossilpower.com.au/Contact.html Some stock feed suppliers have it too & places like where dotdashdot works. :) Edited January 11, 2015 by VizslaMomma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 Thanks...& how does your OH put it down the holes ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Thanks...& how does your OH put it down the holes ??? You know those plastic measuring cups and plastic buckets? Anything like the images below. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/MeasuringCups2.JPG/220px-MeasuringCups2.JPG http://3.imimg.com/data3/EC/SI/MY-5977518/plastic-bucket-250x250.jpg He fills a 10 litre plastic bucket ( or smaller) with the DE. Then he uses the largest of the cups to simply pour into holes. He says there's no issues with spilling any DE. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranga Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Thanks...& how does your OH put it down the holes ??? I just don a pair of rubber gloves and sprinkle it around the nest :) It's best to not get it in your eyes though, so wear goggles and face mask if it is windy or likely to blow around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Thanks...& how does your OH put it down the holes ??? I just don a pair of rubber gloves and sprinkle it around the nest :) It's best to not get it in your eyes though, so wear goggles and face mask if it is windy or likely to blow around. ohMy! Best not let DaddyVizsla read this..... he is careful. But I can just see the task would fall to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 I wonder if it would be just as effective if you spread it with a fertilizer spreader. Maybe mix it with some sand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wildthing Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 I just googled this and read a very interesting article that tells you all about it, what you can use it for and what studies have been done regarding toxcicity to humans and some animals. I would certainly be cautious when putting it down for ant control. Don't think I would spread it around all over the lawn! I know it can also be used for lice on chickens. Think I will get some for the ants I have now! Thank you for starting the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 I just googled this and read a very interesting article that tells you all about it, what you can use it for and what studies have been done regarding toxcicity to humans and some animals. I would certainly be cautious when putting it down for ant control. Don't think I would spread it around all over the lawn! I know it can also be used for lice on chickens. Think I will get some for the ants I have now! Thank you for starting the thread. I couldn't find much on it....would you care to share the link you found??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Supposed to be very effective. Will see how it works in our garden, as soon as rain has stopped. Just too many ants around. http://www.winnebagomastergardeners.org/Documents/InformationSheets/DiatomaceousEarthsheet.pdf Some feedback on Diatomaceous Earth (Must be FOOD Grade!) on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Perma-Guard-Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade/dp/B002XMTXX8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash1 Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Yes, it is imperative that it is FOOD GRADE ONLY. The pool grade DE is the toxic one, it is mixed with something else that makes it toxic to breathe. Apparently the food grade is safe and many people eat it themselves and give it to their pets/livestock to eat to control internal parasites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 what is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 I just googled this and read a very interesting article that tells you all about it, what you can use it for and what studies have been done regarding toxcicity to humans and some animals. I would certainly be cautious when putting it down for ant control. Don't think I would spread it around all over the lawn! I know it can also be used for lice on chickens. Think I will get some for the ants I have now! Thank you for starting the thread. I started the same way. I found out that the human grade is essential to be used for any conditions where we are involved. DaddyVizsla started using it over 30 years ago according to his calculations. He was working with a chap who was a greenkeeper. That chap tried to make sure to avoid chemicals where possible on his lawns & gardens. Here's a couple of my sites. I may even have posted the one you read: http://diatomaceousearthonline.com.au *** shop has a special at the moment. http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_human_use.html this site is the one my US friends use. Majority of them who live on both the West Coast & East Coast use DE. They too have removed danger chemicals where possible. It's been effective with flea control for us as well. In another thread I mentioned this. http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/255873-diatomaceous-earth-for-flea-control/ It is a matter of due care, and due attention if selected for usage. I can not stress that much. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) what is it? Dictionary quote a soft, crumbly, porous sedimentary deposit formed from the fossil remains of diatoms. Here's a bit more info. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html To handle it's whitish, crumbly powdery & a bit gritty. No good to use on high humidity days or on wet soil or grass. Usual carful handling, including as Ranga said, watching that eyes are not harmed. I have had DE in my eyes. It was like a bucketful of gravel. However an eye wash & drops resolved my carelessness handling. Edited January 11, 2015 by VizslaMomma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 I'm going to have to get some of this stuff & try it. I wonder if my local produce stores might stock it. Someone earlier said that Petstock have it. I will do some ringing arouond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 I'm going to have to get some of this stuff & try it. I wonder if my local produce stores might stock it. Someone earlier said that Petstock have it. I will do some ringing arouond. May be better to try a smaller bag first in case you have problems. Then you can go bigger. I hope it does work for you, sheena. As I said we've used it in different places ( and countries) over the years. We have enjoyed not needing the poisons of chemicals. Just been outside & there are butterflies on the vines. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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