How to keep fire ants away from your tree roots?

I have young crepe myrtles that were (store) potted until finally the Fall set in and it was safe to plant them. We cut away one of the plastic pots to plant the tree and it was FULL of fire ants. The water attracts the ants and they steal the much-needed water from the tree’s root system. I put Sevin dust in the hole we had dug (diatomaceous earth isn’t very effective for fire ants) , and then all around the root ball...but I don’t know if this hurts the root system, or more importantly, will kill these ants. Any thoughts? We live in N. Texas where fire ants laugh at you and move somewhere else when ya try to kill them!

  7 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Nov 14, 2017

    never put seven in with a newly planted tree for starters.Food grade diatomaceous earth should have gotten rid of the ants. Check the tree for insects,mainly aphids,that could be the reason for all the ants.

    • Anne Zellner Pettijohn Anne Zellner Pettijohn on Nov 15, 2017

      WE didn’t see any signs of aphids but since the trees were still in the store pots, I was religiously watering them. We are on “raw” land (starting to build a house), and the fire ants had really taken over, since nobody had ever inhabited the property before us. I will double-check for aphids, just in case, though. Thanks, Janet!

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Nov 14, 2017

    Somebody said cornmeal will kill the colony..haven't tried yet but thought I would mention

  • Lillyz Lillyz on Nov 14, 2017

    Try borax. Its in the detergent aisle at the store. They might just move away. Sprinkle it around the hills when they are not active

  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Nov 15, 2017

    Cornmeal will do the trick, and won't hurt any pets!

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Nov 15, 2017

    Let me know how it works..just heard that a day or so ago and told my husband...he frowned but said it would be worth a try...fire ants have been terrible here this year!

  • Nancyvanwyck1 Nancyvanwyck1 on Nov 15, 2017

    Easiest and cheapest way to rid fire ants is with any cheap soda. Knock off the top of the anthill, pour soda pop all over it and wait. The co2 in it will sink to the lower tunnels and smother the ants within about an hour. There will not be enough ants left to start another colony. My yard in NC was loaded with them, as were the other yards around... seemed they were all joined into a massive community. I used over $200 insecticide etc, then spent $9.00 on cheap soda. Within a day there were NO ANTS anywhere. Works every time. So cheap and easy.

    • Anne Zellner Pettijohn Anne Zellner Pettijohn on Nov 15, 2017

      I guess it doesn’t matter which kind, as long as it has fizz? Wow! That’s great! would sugared soda hurt young tree roots?

  • packaged cornbread mix that says it is sweetened and put it where they are coming in if you can find it, or even on your counter in a small lid. They will take it to the mound, everyone will eat it and die, they can't digest the cornmeal, but will take it because it is sweetened. Little goes a long way.