This has been an interesting week. At my house we have received a little more than 2 inches of rain. The grass is greener and the air is fresh. 

I went to a ladies’ plant swap party at the North Acres Church with my daughter-n-law, Sara, and had a great time. I made some new friends, ate some delicious treats, and I plan to attend the next event. Thank you North Acres Ladies.  

With all of this rain, which was a blessing, there should be a new season of fire ants. To me, the easier treatment the better. I like to just sprinkle the chemicals on the mound and worry them to death. I like the surrender product and the Bayer Fire Ant Killer. I usually just sprinkle on the top of the mound, which is what the directions say. But making them miserable is a lot more fun. My Grands and I found a few mounds last week while we were walking around the pond and sure made them mad. 

Another product that is good is Bifen. Mix 1 ounce to a gallon of water and drench the mound. If you can, put the nozzle of the sprayer down in the mound and drown the ants maybe even the queen. Bifen even comes to us in a granular form. Just sprinkle on the mounds and the yard. I know that there is nothing that is going to eradicate the ants, but there is a lot that we can do to help the situation.

Fertilome offers a product called Come and Get it. The ingredient in this is Spinosad. Spinosad contains a bait that attracts fire ants and is taken back into the nest as food for the colony, killing the queen and the ants.  Dead ants will frequently be seen near the mounds with 24 hours.

Whatever you do or use always read the label.

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at  mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)