tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post4695877118787203109..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: Fire Ants & Coffee GroundsFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-48517795837997883862015-12-28T16:25:51.934-06:002015-12-28T16:25:51.934-06:00Really! That is very interesting. Thank you for sh...Really! That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience, we will definitely try this out.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-29058717761208296582015-12-28T16:09:36.584-06:002015-12-28T16:09:36.584-06:00Another natural way we tryed in Georgia, two shove...Another natural way we tryed in Georgia, two shovels. Two colonies, take a shovel full from each colony and swap them into the nests. They will kill each other off. Took about a day for the two we had in the yard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-7379857718314098592014-10-21T18:59:17.025-05:002014-10-21T18:59:17.025-05:00You're right, aphids are very difficult to get...You're right, aphids are very difficult to get rid of. Sometimes we take a water hose with a sprayer and try to blast them off, and we've also used a solution of liquid soap and water, about 1 tablespoon of soap to 2 quarts of water. We've had moderate success with that.<br /><br />So far the coffee grounds around the plants have been the best shot at keeping the ants from planting the aphids. Hope it works well for you. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-59348356077961375032014-10-21T17:14:14.227-05:002014-10-21T17:14:14.227-05:00I am so thankful to have found this. I've not...I am so thankful to have found this. I've noticed an astronomical amount of Aphids on my sunflowers and calendulas this summer! So bad the stalks/leaves were almost black with them. We have ant mounds all over the place. Have tried the borax solution. It seemed to be doing something but not completely eradicate them. Will keep that up and try the coffee grounds too!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the correlation. I had to spray my plants fire hose style to try to get rid of the aphids. They just kept coming back.<br /><br />Any remedies on aphids would be helpful if anyone has them. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-19125819281988936972014-07-12T14:29:19.476-05:002014-07-12T14:29:19.476-05:00I'm not sure if it works on other ants or not,...I'm not sure if it works on other ants or not, Karla. The article I read didn't mention fire ants, just ants, so it might. The link to the article is in this post for more information. I hope it works for you.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-42412510497886954312014-07-12T12:49:56.116-05:002014-07-12T12:49:56.116-05:00What a great idea. Does it work on other kinds of ...What a great idea. Does it work on other kinds of ants as well? I need to try this - thank you!mrsnuebyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13911967710991836547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-38763427267943339882014-06-28T13:58:23.835-05:002014-06-28T13:58:23.835-05:00Hi Ruth. I'm glad you have joined us. I would ...Hi Ruth. I'm glad you have joined us. I would also be interested to hear if the coffee grounds work for you as well. So far this year, we haven't had near as many ants as we have the last few years, but I've seen a few new hills around lately, one in the garden. Time to sprinkle some more coffee grounds. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-29362178665060120972014-06-28T13:39:50.623-05:002014-06-28T13:39:50.623-05:00Ok, now I have to follow your blog just to find ou...Ok, now I have to follow your blog just to find out if the coffee grounds work for you!<br /><br />Last year we had a horrid problem with ants (regular ones) farming Aphids. I THOUGH I'd gotten rid of them in that bed back in early spring by pouring boiling water on that bed before planting anything. But they're back. So far no aphids, but I'm not willing to wait to find out that they're there too. I'll be putting out coffee grounds now.....if they're not gone by the time I've gotten all the produce out of the garden I'll be doing the borax thing though, I can keep the dogs out of the garden easily enough.....Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11924993310937754220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-58238798835780877162014-06-27T08:31:11.712-05:002014-06-27T08:31:11.712-05:00That is a good source for coffee grounds, and the ...That is a good source for coffee grounds, and the price is right. I didn't know they were high in nitrogen, but have used them before around plants that like acidic soil. Good information, Kelly, thank you.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-3895990003690303402014-06-27T07:29:48.820-05:002014-06-27T07:29:48.820-05:00Coffee grounds are an excellent source of nitrogen...Coffee grounds are an excellent source of nitrogen as well. Our blueberry bushes love them, and I have seen no ants around them! (Ha!). We go to Starbucks and pick up the coffee grounds and they are FREE! Great in the compost. This is very interesting. I hope this rids you of this pesty problem.GiGi Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14493659156971939923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-32279133815346499912014-06-25T21:24:14.387-05:002014-06-25T21:24:14.387-05:00Sometimes it's hard to find a natural solution...Sometimes it's hard to find a natural solution to some pests, and you just have to grin and bear it. I'm always glad to run across a new technique to try out. I really hope it works for you.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-56616168601096205402014-06-25T20:04:55.997-05:002014-06-25T20:04:55.997-05:00We have the exact same problem! And I've tried...We have the exact same problem! And I've tried a lot of the same natural solutions. My concern with vinegar and borax is their pH. I'm afraid the pH change might not be good for some of my plants if used for too long. Will definitely try the coffee grounds. Multiple ant bites every day take the fun out of gardening. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-70759415098571322272014-06-24T21:48:24.204-05:002014-06-24T21:48:24.204-05:00There are folks around here that have used boiling...There are folks around here that have used boiling water, Jan. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. We've also heard of people trying cornmeal, cream of wheat or a mixture of vinegar, dish soap and borax. I think the coffee grounds may be setting them back as well. Time will tell if they are actually gone. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-66235321445543531672014-06-24T21:44:30.600-05:002014-06-24T21:44:30.600-05:00We are not familiar with earwigs. We've heard ...We are not familiar with earwigs. We've heard of them, just haven't had to deal with them. I guess it's worth a try, Fiona. Let us know how it works out.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-19252404300309932922014-06-24T21:09:02.106-05:002014-06-24T21:09:02.106-05:00When you get them out of the garden ( & away f...When you get them out of the garden ( & away from precious roots), a medium size pot of boiling water two days in a row will kill so many of them that they will be set back for quite awhile. I used to do it at once a year in Florida and that usually kept them on the property edges, away from us and dogs.<br />Jan in NWGAUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18137391627656146813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-15613991906849442262014-06-24T16:26:03.077-05:002014-06-24T16:26:03.077-05:00We do not have fire ants but we do have earwigs. I...We do not have fire ants but we do have earwigs. I wonder if coffee grounds will effect them? avoiding chemicals and pesticides has both its good and bad...but we really prefer earwigs to Glyphosate!Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348495575211204989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-41754900589116752732014-06-24T13:24:59.949-05:002014-06-24T13:24:59.949-05:00I'm hoping on the next installment there will ...I'm hoping on the next installment there will be nothing to show.......because they will be gone.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-18677390217011502692014-06-24T13:24:16.971-05:002014-06-24T13:24:16.971-05:00With the heat and humidity the way it is, there ar...With the heat and humidity the way it is, there are days that moving north sounds like a good idea.<br /><br />FrankFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-33928844434661009012014-06-24T12:15:08.935-05:002014-06-24T12:15:08.935-05:00How interesting! We're staying tuned to see ...How interesting! We're staying tuned to see the next installment on your results. <br />- Katie and MarkControlled Jibehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03896054838235282438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-30196670759418175342014-06-24T05:51:06.170-05:002014-06-24T05:51:06.170-05:00Aphids and fire ants! Very interesting! If fire an...Aphids and fire ants! Very interesting! If fire ants and scorpions ever reside together I'm moving north! :) <br />y'all have a good day!Oklahoma Preppernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-25518705173110808142014-06-23T16:44:43.186-05:002014-06-23T16:44:43.186-05:00Well, Joy, that cracked me up. I just hope it find...Well, Joy, that cracked me up. I just hope it finds them kicking back.....permanently.....<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-61617204211146991312014-06-23T16:05:13.748-05:002014-06-23T16:05:13.748-05:00I can imagine there could be all sorts of corny jo...I can imagine there could be all sorts of corny jokes about the Fire Ants and their consumption of coffee... maybe they won't be able to sleep at night or you'll find them kicking back in the morning with a cup and schlepping around in house slippers and pyjamas.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15471639876072617577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-22687350776843673672014-06-23T08:04:48.182-05:002014-06-23T08:04:48.182-05:00I was very surprised last summer when I read about...I was very surprised last summer when I read about the relationship between fire ants and aphids. There were thick patches of aphids on small sections of my okra and purple hull peas. It was a strange pattern. I'm not sure how I found the information, but then I started watching where the aphids appeared in reference to the ant hills. Sure enough, I even found the ants and aphids on the same plants in large numbers. Interesting, even though irritating, literally. It takes a while to see any results with the coffee grounds, but it appears to be having some effect. I hope it works for you.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-15205493816861108852014-06-23T07:56:16.669-05:002014-06-23T07:56:16.669-05:00This information about fire ants caring for aphids...This information about fire ants caring for aphids is amazing. We have ants, but thankfully we don't have fire ants. I will be trying this on regular ant nests. Thank you! Kathi at Oak Hill Homesteadhttp://www.oakhillhomestead.comnoreply@blogger.com