Idont like chemicals in my garden and the fire ants are trying to take over any advice?

Wear tall boots?

If you use a targeted ant bait, the ants will take most if not all of it back to the nest and consume it. I figure you use so very little to gain so much, especially with fire ants!

Our local County Extension released a parasitic wasp that is helping a lot with fire ant control around here. Maybe ask your County Extension about this?

There are insecticides that use Spinosad which is organically acceptable since it does not persist in the environment, but is broken down by natural soil processes. http://www.2ndchance.info/flea... I talked yesterday to someone who used a Spinosad powder to make an ant bait. Don't know how well it works, though.

The other way to go is DE, diatomaceous earth. You can try spreading it around the ant mounds and see if it helps. It will certainly kill some of the ants in a completely non-toxic manner, but it may actually cause the nests to 'bud' or divide and spread around, eventually making the problem more widespread.

We had success with coffee grounds. We got them free from Starbucks. Doesn't kill them though, they just move somewhere else. If you leave a 5 gal. bucket with Starbucks you can go back in a couple of days and pick it up full of grounds (and filters). Bring a second one to leave for refill.

thanks to all . i keep hoping some study turns up a miracle. i will ask the county agent about the parasitic wasp.

While you are at Starbucks, or any other of your favorite coffee shops, grab a packet or two of Splanda.
Rip open one packet and carefully sprinkle the contents on one ant mound; do this in such a way that you do not disturb the ants.
The ants will not be alarmed and later will find the 'food' that you left for them; they will carry it down into the inner sanctum.
Everyone will get an ant size stomach ache and decide to move away from the area.

Okay, it's not an all natural solution, but it does work and costs very little, even if you actually buy the box of Splenda.
(I got mine at a yard sale for $1.00 for and entire industrial size box.)