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Bringing Ant-free Branches Indoors

Posted by Helen23 Central Florida (My Page) on
Mon, Aug 16, 04 at 21:46

Hi,

Does anyone know how to make dying wood unappealing to ants? In cleaning up after Hurricane Charlie, I've cut a number of fallen limbs up into pieces that -- once planted into pots of cement and drilled with holes into which silk leaves are stuck -- will make great indoor trees. However, there are ants that seem to like these branches too.

So far I've propped the branches into a pot of bleach and water in the hopes that the branches might still drink the water and then the bleach will kill whatever the ants are finding tasty. But I'm sure that there's a better way. I'm reluctant to just kill the ants with baits or spray because if there's something inside the branches that draws ants, I don't want them coming for it once inside our home.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Helen


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Bringing Ant-free Branches Indoors

I kill critters in moss and such that I harvest by putting it in the freezer. Don't know if that would work for ants or not, but I think they would freeze sooner or later. Wouldn't they?

Janie


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RE: Bringing Ant-free Branches Indoors

  • Posted by Helen23 Central Florida (My Page) on
    Mon, Aug 23, 04 at 14:54

Thanks, Janie. I've left the branches out on the driveway and as they're drying out, the ants seem to be disappearing. I'm sure freezing would work too but some of these branches are 15 feet long... too long for my freezer. So I think that I'll let them dry out for 2-3 more weeks before trying to turn them into indoor silk trees.

Thanks again.
Helen


 
 

 

 


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