Our yard is infested with fire ants.  And yet I would love to be able to go outside and dig up the earth with out fear of swarming insects biting me.  I know many bugs, including ants hate mint so I have been looking for mint seeds (I might have to give in and go to Wal-Mart to find them.)   Any way what I was thinking was that I could scatter the seeds in my yard and maybe as they grew they would drive the ants away.  We don't care about a lush lawn, I just want the ants gone.  Has anyone tried to plant mint to get rid of fire ants, if so did it work?  I really don't want to use insecticides, especially with our kitties going outside but these ants have got to go!

Hi Indie,

If you have a local agriculture extension (at a college or government agency) call them and see what could be done. It is always best to consult your local ag agencies first. The ants migrate, and treating the whole yard would be best. I don't believe you will be able to do it with just plants. Perhaps they can give you more suggestions.....we have loads of fire ants here, and I use cinnamon and cayenne pepper...also borax mixed with peanut butter.....it wards them off, but they eventually come back....

In our back yard we put down fire ant killer due to the fact that our dog, family and friends inhabit the yard most of the year. Now is the time to get the buggers off your land tho, as the days heat up, they tend to multiply!

Best of luck and let us know if you find our anything! Perhaps someone else here has more suggestions as well!

Blessings BRight and Dark,

Sorry but no the mint plants won't work. I've tried and done everything there is, but they come back. They would build their mounds around the mint plants and kill them. I hated the idea of insecticides but I've had to go there. My oldest gets very ill if bitten by these ants (fire ants). So I couldn't play nice anymore.

Don't try to flood them out, they won't drown and you'll end up spreading them even more. The mound you see is only half of their home, they make excap tunnels up to 2 feet away from the main mound. On warm days they bring their young close to the top of the mound. Cold weather and rainy weather sends them back down in to the ground. When you come across an empty nest/mound salt the hole thing well, that will keep them from moving back in or another colony from moving in. There are insecticieds that are envirment friendly. Though i find they don't work as well nor last as long. I don't like having to use such harsh chemicals but for the safety of my kids, I do. I treat the hole yard every month. It doesn't stop them all but it helps alot.

Hope this helps abit. Best of luck.