I don't know why it works but it does. Put the grounds from your coffee right on the hill. What I've been told is that the ants love the grounds but can't digest them, so they die. Don't know if it's factual though. I do know I've used it and it works.

be deployed immediately! Thanks!

In exchange, I'll share my tip for any of the little buggers that actually make it into the house:

Mix Borax and powdered sugar 1-to-1. Take an old cream cheese tub (cleaned, of course) or similar and poke a lot of holes in the top (a heated nail works great for this). Place the Borax-sugar in the tub, put on the holey lid and place it in the path of the ants. They are attracted to and eat the sugar and they take it, along with the lethal Borax, back to their nest.

or if you are the sadistic type, someone here said get a plumber's torch and keep turning over the dirt and fry them as they escape. haven't tried it myself, but not because i don't have the heart.

That's actually a pic of the "Red Dragon" propane "weeder." As vexed as I am by ants (and WEEDS-- the things are vigorenormous this year), that just has "I burnt down my house" written all over it.

i would burn something down fersher, tho.

Pennyroyal is a ground-cover herb that grows like a weed. Ants can't stand the stuff. We found that putting a few sprigs in the bottom of a pot before adding the dirt does wonders to keep the ants from making a home in the potted plants. It pulls up with roots easily so we transplant it right over the ant hills. Man that pisses them off, but they move on. It's also a great insect repellant for your body - just crush a few leaves and rub them over your exposed areas.

As for the spiders, the tiniest ones need something to eat and aphids sound about right. We have a no-kill rule for spiders. There are very few you need to worry about getting bitten by and they do far more good than any possible harm. Lady bugs are cute, but they're indiscriminate consumers and while they do munch on aphids they also eat beneficial insects. Don't bother buying them. They rarely stay in the spot they are released. Praying mantis is another "eat everything in sight", but on balance both lady bugs and praying mantis are beneficial. I read somewhere that a praying mantis male can't achieve while his head is still attached. Sounds about right.

of Facebook is happening outside my door. Fortunately, I no longer freak out at the sight of one as I did in younger days b/c I'd be in 24/7 screaming meemie mode.

We only had one praying mantis last year and she hung out on the radish greens mostly, but didn't eat too much.

Wish I'd known about the pennyroyal before I planted all my pots, but will tuck that one away for next year.