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Austin Babies
brideonjuly8
member
WWYD? - Ant beds in the neighbors yard *clicky*
brideonjuly8
member
Last year we had a horrible issue with ants- fire ants, actually. They were coming in all over our house trying to find water. We had it taken care of with exterminators and we haven't had an issue since, but it was $$$. They were coming in mostly on one side of the house- the side DSs room is on.
Yesterday DS and I were outside running around in the front yard and he almost got into two HUGE fire ant beds (FILLED with ants) in the neighbors yard. They're close to the invisible line dividing our yards, on the side of the house DSs room is on.
One was up by the sidewalk and only a foot or two from the invisible line, so I went ahead and treated it (because DS nearly crawled onto it ::shudder::). The other is still close to the line, but probably 3-4 feet and built up on one of their flower beds:
I took this picture from DSs bedroom window- that's how close it is.
I went ahead and treated the one by the sidewalk since it was closer, but what would you do about this one? Go ahead and treat it? I would just go over and ask them to treat it, but I'm *SO* not confrontational, and I would feel bad. And of course, they might not do it or do a crappy job. The house is owed by an older couple and I would feel like I was telling them they aren't taking care of their house or something. We're still getting our house treated every couple months and I hope to get done what we did last year anyway, just to be safe.
DH won't go over there, and says he won't treat it because it's their yard, he's sure the ant problem won't come into our yard, blah blah. Basically he's just being a lazy ass and doesn't want to deal with it. So it anything happens I'm going to have to do it. ::sigh::
I can't have another ant-infested summer like last year. All the stress and nightmares about ants crawling all over my sleeping baby just about killed me.
Oh, and did I mention the ants were EATING THROUGH HIS DRYWALL AND ALL OVER HIS ROOM?! FIRE ants, not scavenger ants. It CANNOT happen again.
Would you treat it? It's HUGE.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: WWYD? - Ant beds in the neighbors yard *clicky*
I voted based on this line:
Oh, and did I mention the ants were EATING THROUGH HIS DRYWALL AND ALL OVER HIS ROOM?! FIRE ants, not scavenger ants. It CANNOT happen again.
But what kind of neighbors are they? Nice and friendly and passive? Is he big on lawn maint during the summer?
I don't think treating it is that big of a deal if they don't have kids outside that they're worried about chemicals with, I just wouldn't want to offend them if the yard is a source of pride that they enjoy maintaining.
Just treat it and move on. It's still January so some guys (not including my DH) aren't worried about yards right now.
just go talk to them. don't be confrontational about it.
"hey - DS and I were playing in the yard yesterday and I noticed an active ant hill by the sidewalk, so I went ahead and treated it. I'd be happy to treat *this* one too, but wanted to clear it with you first, since it's in your yard. We're always dealing with these ants, so it's no problem at all for me to sprinkle some stuff on your hills too, if you don't mind."
that way, you're saying that you'd be happy to help them out, you know what it's like to deal with ants, etc. If the conversation goes in that direction, you could even recommend your service that has helped you with the ants too. Maybe it would even help them out (if they're getting into your house, they're probably getting into their house too).
just be friendly and gracious
They're nice, but we rarely ever see them. They moved in last summer, and the only yard maintenance I've seen was done by someone else. I can't imagine them coming anytime soon since it's winter and nothing's really growing. No young kids, one daughter in high school. They do (or did) have a tiny puppy, but we never see it on the front.
How do you treat the beds?
If it were me (yes, I realize I'm weird) I'd sneak over to their yard when they were sleeping or out of the house and treat it. I'm passive like that but they also might not know it's there to begin with.
See, I'm thinking that's the case, they probably don't even know it's there, so they probably wouldn't know if I treated it or not. But I don't want to get "caught" and I'm very passive aggressive, too.
I would sprinkle our fire ant killer on it.
Of course, the "right" choice would be to go talk to them, and just say, "I have this great recomendation for fire ant killer. Last summer we had a huge problem with them getting into our house, and I found this works best. I noticed you had some ants in your yard so I thought I'd bring over my recomendation. I have some at home and I can treat those for you if you'd like."
But in reality .... I'm just treat it when they weren't home and then act like you were doing them a favor if you got caught. I would think that would only backfire if they were all natural anti-chemical people, but it doesn't sound like they are.
Andholymotherofchristmas, that's a HUGE ant pile!
I love being organic. In a post below I said you shouldn't use pesticides to treat weeds. But I draw the line when it comes to fire ants. I will kill those little bastards anyway I can. Both my kids are violently allergic to fire ant bites. I almost had to take Abby to the ER one night because I thought the swelling on her ankle was going to cut off circulation to her foot.
If you see them in the next day or two - go ask. If not, I say just go drop a tablespoon of Amdro on the mounds, let out a cackle of laughter and say "So long suckers!!!"
I haven't been getting enough sleep lately and I thought for a second you were suggesting she go talk to the fire ants about leaving. "Excuse me, Mr. Fire Ant, but I noticed you've begun starting making a nest again. We had a problem with y'all infesting my sons room last year and I'd like to avoid that happening again. Do you think you could move to the next county or just lay down and die? Thaaanks".
Married October 28, 2006, TTC since March 2009 IUI #1-8 w/ clomid = BFN
IVF # 1 May, 2011 = BFP!!! Stillbirth at 26 weeks (placental failure/severe IUGR)
FET #1 February, 2012-- BFP! Beta #1=84 Beta #2= 207 Beta #3= 3,526
Our Rainbow Baby is on the Way!
This exactly.