At my dacha, I have an old solid greenhouse built in the days of the Soviet Union. The design is based on a cast strip foundation, which over time began to crack and turned into an excellent refuge for ants. The first signs of pests appeared on the surface of the earth in the form of small paths, holes and piles of dust. The picture looked like this:
The ants themselves weren't common, but traces of their activity were everywhere. It was necessary to get rid of uninvited guests, so I dug out the places where insects accumulated with a garden spatula, after which I spilled them abundantly with boiling water. The result was temporary. Literally a week later, the pests made themselves felt again. This did not suit me.
I began to dig up the ant passages, eventually digging to the foundation. Since I did not find a large nest during my excavations, it could be assumed that it was somewhere among cracks and voids in concrete. I tried to pour hot water into it, but immediately abandoned this venture, since it was completely useless.
As a result, I came to the conclusion that I needed to expel the ants from a very inaccessible place, which was impossible to completely excavate.
Getting rid of ants in the foundation
The solution to the problem seemed intuitive to me. I slightly modified the method of removing ants using ammonia. I collected old cotton rags, impregnated them with the preparation and caulked all visible cracks and holes. So that the alcohol does not immediately evaporate, I covered the fabric with a film and pressed it with bricks.
It is not necessary to saturate the rags completely, but only on the side with which you will plug the crack. This will prevent the drug from instantly evaporating, and will also save the lion's share of ammonia.
I did not touch the compress for a couple of three days. It was necessary to wait for the insects to leave their habitats. During this time, they helped me prepare a cement mortar, with which we filled the ill-fated cracks. A layer of bitumen was applied over the hardened mortar to protect it from moisture. Since then, the foundation has ceased to be a home for garden pests.
Read also on my website -How to get rid of a wireworm in the garden: personal experience
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