Potted Key Lime Tree with Tiny Black Ants
Question from Brenda:
I have a potted key lime tree, new, and all of sudden tiny black yard ants have made a home in the pot, and are crawling into the blooms. How can I get rid of them without hurting the tree?
Answer from Pat:
Purchase a bag of dry earthworm castings and put about a one-inch-thick layer of the castings on top of the soil in the pot, covering the surface of the potting soil. This will get rid of the ants. Water as usual.
Can I do the same thing with earthworm castings with vegetables I’m growing in 2 raised beds? One has carrots and beets in it and the other bed has cucumbers, and the ants seem to have taken up residence in the boxes. Thanks for your advice!
Earthworm castings, bagged or home-grown, get rid of ants in raised boxes usually in rapid fire time. Just put a layer of the dry bagged castings on top of the soil, like mulch around the vegetables. In the case of your homemade castings, it’s best to dig them into the soil. Water as usual.