I'm really worried I might have ruined my garden soil. I added Knockout Ant, Flea, and Tick Granules to my vegetable garden because I was overwhelmed by ants. I have two garden beds — one is 40 sq ft and the other is 16 sq ft. The ant problem got so bad that I couldn't garden comfortably with ants crawling all over me! I tried several methods to get rid of them, but nothing worked, so I ended up at a local shop where they suggested this product. It claims to be safe for gardens, but now that I've used it, I'm feeling anxious. The ingredients list 0.1% bifenthrin and 95-99% peanut hulls. I'm worried it might kill beneficial insects in the soil and I regret using it. I might have even put too much down because the application was confusing. Now I'm debating whether to replace all the soil or skip the growing season entirely. Any advice would really help!
3 Answers
You might be okay! The product isn't systemic, so you should still be able to plant your veggies without any issues. Just keep an eye on them.
Diatomaceous Earth might not work well on ants, but I've had success using it on aphids and cabbage worms. As for dealing with your ant situation, identifying the type of ants you're dealing with is crucial. Different types require different approaches. For next time, Spinosad could be a gentler option! Good luck!
I found some product listings that say it's safe for vegetable gardens, but on the flip side, some sources state the active ingredient isn’t safe. It’s a bit confusing! Maybe you could check with a local extension office for clarity before you make any decisions about replanting or replacing soil.
I tried D.E. on ants with no luck either, but it worked wonders for me on other pests like aphids!