Hi,

Does anyone know how to make dying wood unappealing to ants? In cleaning up after Hurricane Charlie, I've cut a number of fallen limbs up into pieces that -- once planted into pots of cement and drilled with holes into which silk leaves are stuck -- will make great indoor trees. However, there are ants that seem to like these branches too.

So far I've propped the branches into a pot of bleach and water in the hopes that the branches might still drink the water and then the bleach will kill whatever the ants are finding tasty. But I'm sure that there's a better way. I'm reluctant to just kill the ants with baits or spray because if there's something inside the branches that draws ants, I don't want them coming for it once inside our home.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Helen