I have an ant problem too and I've been researching methods to get rid of them. The most common I see are the sugar water and borax mixtures, commercial pesticides, or using some organic method like sprinkling cinnamon, orange oil, coffee grounds etc on the ground which supposedly will just deter them. Another option is pouring several gallons of boiling water down the ant hill (which seems to only be relevant if your ant hill has one main entrance - mine doesn't).
I've tried the coffee grounds and I tried sprinkling citrus peels around the ant hill to try to keep the ants contained, but neither worked. I'm currently considering buying some Spectracide Ant Shield Lawn Stakes, but I don't know the implications of using something like that in your veggie garden.

Good luck.

My ant colony is inside a pile of fill dirt I'd like to spread out over the garden. I'm worried that will simply create a bunch more new colonies if I spread the dirt without killing them first (not to mention how gross it is to get a shovel full of dirt out of the pile and have it swarming with ants). I'll post about it in a new thread and see if anyone has any ideas.

Many threads with solutions that fit your worldview on this issue can be found using the 'Search' function. Ants may or may not be attracted to aphids on your plants. They may be looking for soil critters to eat. They may need living space.

Dan

I've been using sugar water and a few drops of Bayer Advanced Complete insect killer in a 20oz soda bottle with a small hole punched in it placed as near the colony entrance as possible. It seems to be working so far. Imidacloprid is the active ingredient.

Do NOT use the Bayer product near your veggies. If you read the label on whatever commercial product you decide to use carefully, you will find out quite quickly if it can be used on or near edible crops or not. I'd be very, very careful about the Spectracide product. Read the label thoroughly before you purchase it.

Ants, contrary to popular opinion, are not terribly evil critters that must be liquidated. Ants are part of Ma NAtures recycling machine and are beneficial insects. Those ants were in those pots because they found a good place to nest that provided at least some of what they need to exist, a nearby food and moisture source and a decent soil (relatively dry) to nest in. As has been stated before read the labels of any products you are thinking of using on any crop, but especially food crops, before you use it. Far too many people are using far too many inappropriate products imappropriatly.

Guess I should have stated the hole is for the ants to crawl in and out, NOT to disperse the concoction.

Hi There

if the ants are in a pile of dirt then just dig a pit and throw in some firewood and torch them you won't have weeds, bugs or anything else in that dirt.