Its raining in Boerne, Thank You Lord.  As you know from previous posts rain has been in short supply here in the Texas Hill Country, but it finally has started to rain and things are perking up.  Course we still have those pesky water restrictions, because it will take a lot more rain to raise the aquifer to a level to get us out. 

But no one told the ants that we needed more rain, or they just don't care, because they are hurrying out of the ground and building their little mounds above.  Just walk out in any backyard lately and your liable to hit a land mine (ant hill).  So I thought it was time to find some ways to get rid of those critters. Here is what I found, hope one works for you.

Natural Ants Control Tips

• Fire ants: non toxic way to kill them is plain old instant Grits. The ants eat them, then go for water the grits expand inside them & they die, they can't expel gas, & you don't worry about pets getting poisoned. Just sprinkle & go.  I heard this works and little boys love to watch!
• For those of you following this blog you will remember all the fun and useful things that we found awhile back to use dryer sheets for besides putting then in the dryer, so here's one more for you. To keep ants from getting into your hummingbird feeders, take a dryer sheet and wrap around the hanger with a rubber band. The ants won't come near it.  
• To keep ants from entering the house (or anywhere else) sprinkle baby powder on door and window sills, The ants won't cross and it is safe around pets and children. Bonus, smells nice too!  I have heard that salt works for this way too, but doesn't smell as nice.
• To keep the ants out of your sugar bowl put a piece of lemon peel in it. Or use Splenda and don't worry because its in a package :)
• How to get rid of the stinging from a fire ant. Take 1 tsp. of Meat Tenderizer Seasoning put in a little bowl and add a drop of water. Mix until pasty like and add to spot where the fire ant bite. This works on other stinging pests too, including jelly fish. Had to use this one down South Padre at the first of the summer on my little one. :(
• Put orange peels in ant holes and add water. Have to wonder why this would work!
• For sugar ants, (the little black ones) mix equal parts of sugar and borax, mix with water to a paste, dab in areas where ants like to visit. It dehydrates them. Outside, sprinkle the solution around known ant colonies.
• To keep ants away from your pets food outside put some vaseline (in a circle) around the pets bowl. The ants will not cross it!
• Or you could try this one for your pet's food bowl, put the bowl inside of tin pan wider then the bowl. Fill the pan with water and the ants can't get to the bowl of food. Course my dog would just drink the water and the ants would have free access to the food.  

OK now that you are rid of the ants, enjoy the rain!!!