With warmer weather, you may notice some garden nuisances becoming active, among them fire ants. If you discover a fire ant colony in your garden plot – a telltale sign is the crumbly or grits-like appearance of the soil comprising the colony – take steps to eradicate it immediately. Because Harvest Farm Community Garden is an organic environment, such control requires an appropriate non-chemical strategy. One of the most effective is a gallon jug of white distilled vinegar, poured undiluted directly on the colony. Usually, one application is sufficient, but a second application sometimes is necessary. If a plant or two is very close to the site of the colony, the acid of the vinegar likely will kill them but this will be the only impact of the application, other than the destruction of the ant colony.
– Carol Hassell