My Poor Mini Roses! (PIX)

[Rebbetzin]

This morning when I went out to the front yard, I found my new mini rose bushes at the base of the birdbath...

had all been completely stripped of their leaves!

Here is a close up of the damage.

I figured it was the Dreaded Leaf Cutter Ants that have been a problem in the front yard on and off for years now. And sure enough I found their "nest"!! With all my nice rose leaves there on the surface of the hill.

I now have to figure out how to get rid of them. I have tried many different Ant type killers, but it appears they are immune!

 

[Dawn419]

Oh no!

We've had problems with locust(in their "cycle") and grasshoppers this year and started spraying everything we grow on purpose with Neem Oil. The worst part with us using this year has been every time I spray, it rains so I have to reapply it but it's organic and works well.

If you grow oregano and any type of mint, a tea made of a handlful of each, steeped and strained works well sprayed on ant-eaten/attracted plants and I also use food grade DE against ants.

 

[Rebbetzin]

Oh no!

We've had problems with locust(in their "cycle") and grasshoppers this year and started spraying everything we grow on purpose with Neem Oil. The worst part with us using this year has been every time I spray, it rains so I have to reapply it but it's organic and works well.

If you grow oregano and any type of mint, a tea made of a handlful of each, steeped and strained works well sprayed on ant-eaten/attracted plants and I also use food grade DE against ants.

I have plenty of DE.. maybe I will put it near the opening of the ant hill. I hesitate to put it on the soil of my garden, since doesn't it kill earthworms and other beneficial bugs?

 

[Dawn419]

With moderate use, I've had no problems with earthworm loss by using Food Grade DE. I use it in the coops, then compost it, and have more worms now than I did when I first started our compost piles here in '09.

I really wish there was someone who would/could do a scientific evaluation of Food Grade DE as it's done me more good than harm, but I use it lightly/moderately.

Wish we lived closer and I'd set you up with mint and oregano and can set you up with them, if you want?

 

[Rebbetzin]

With moderate use, I've had no problems with earthworm loss by using Food Grade DE. I use it in the coops, then compost it, and have more worms now than I did when I first started our compost piles here in '09.

I really wish there was someone who would/could do a scientific evaluation of Food Grade DE as it's done me more good than harm, but I use it lightly/moderately.

Wish we lived closer and I'd set you up with mint and oregano and can set you up with them, if you want?

Come to think of it, I do compost the straw and droppings from the coop, and I use DE in the coop and run, and I have PLENTY of worms in the compost pile!! Silly me!!

I do have mint, and a Greek Oregano in the garden... Do I just spray the "tea" on plants? Will it deter them if I spay the entire front yard? I will put out some DE in the AM. I hope it works!! I put Amdro Ant Killer out by the hill, but they don't seem to be interested in it at all!

 

[Dawn419]

There was so much BS at BYC that for awhile (and still) I wont answer DE ?'s. I don't think you're silly, just cautious! Which is good!

Yep, just spry the tea on the plants (upper and lowers, I know, redundant, since the ants left neither) but spray away with the mint and oregano tea...your not gonna hurt a thing with it. I had extra "tea" left over one time and doc accidentally drank it and asked me what it was. The look on his face was PRICELESS when I told him it was an ant/aphid killer. He's still here giving me chrome hairs and still believes it's one of the best teas I've ever made...go figure!

 

[Rebbetzin]

There was so much BS at BYC that for awhile (and still) I wont answer DE ?'s. I don't think you're silly, just cautious! Which is good!

Yep, just spry the tea on the plants (upper and lowers, I know, redundant, since the ants left neither) but spray away with the mint and oregano tea...your not gonna hurt a thing with it. I had extra "tea" left over one time and doc accidentally drank it and asked me what it was. The look on his face was PRICELESS when I told him it was an ant/aphid killer. He's still here giving me chrome hairs and still believes it's one of the best teas I've ever made...go figure!

Hey, the tea will kill aphids? I have been going out every moring and spraying the aphids off the Sunflower leaves, they are horrible this year! I have used some mild dish soap on the leaves but the aphids keep coming back.

That would probably make a good tea for people to drink too...

 

[dragonlaurel]

Poor rose bushes! DE is good stuff. Ants don't seem to like Bronners Eucalyptus soap either.

 

[Rebbetzin]

I wonder, would a combination of the mint/oregano tea, and DE in a garden sprayer work for detering ants and aphids? I wonder if the DE would suspend well enough and not clog up the sprayer?

 

[Dawn419]

I started using the "tea" for aphids back when doc and I had almost 200 orchids and use the tea to this day for them and still use it against ant invasions.

Edited to add that I haven't tried adding DE to the tea mix.