Doing My Own Fire Ant Treatment

[TXCOMT]

I finally found a spreader rated for fire ant bait.

FIMCO Dry Material Spreaders

They are variabile speed and can spread plus 45’ wide.

I have not purchased one yet but finding one has been a chore.

So how'd ya make out?

TXCOMT

 

[dieselscout80]

I bought a Herd ATV-77 spreader and Esteem fire ant bait. The spreader is used, but not much and I found Esteem locally for $195, so I have less that $500 in the spreader and bait and can continue to do my own for around $200 for the bait.

I have not spread it yet I bought a Fimco wireless remote to activate the spreader and I'm waiting for it to come in.

I called Fimco about their dry material spreader linked to earlier in this thread, but they could say for sure it would work.

Carey

 

[TXCOMT]

Thanks for the update, Carey! I've got a few mounds on the new parcel we just purchased west of Weatherford, Texas, so I appreciate any tips on getting rid of 'em!

TXCOMT

 

[Handloader109]

You don't ever get rid of them. Control is best you can ever do. They will move back in.... No doubt about it. **** things

 

[dieselscout80]

You don't ever get rid of them. Control is best you can ever do. They will move back in.... No doubt about it. **** things

You are correct that’s why I got a spreader so I can do it myself and not pay like $400 to $600 twice a year.

 

[thepumpguysc]

How true, how true.. I did my little slice of heaven w/ a small tow behind drop spreader w/ a mixture of "weed & feed & "over & out"..{$$$}
They just moved over to the neighbors property.. He would only "spot treat".. His place looked like a mine field.. lol
I had the nicest looking lawn for about 1-1/2 years.. then they moved back in..

 

[Tractor Seabee]

When I had my 20 AC of forest land there were mounds all over. When I liberally used diamatcious earth on and around the mounds (at least 20# each); they never came back. They must carry the powder throughout and into the birthing areas and the queen. DE is extremely cheap compared to all the name brand products being recommended.

Ron

 

[newbury]

When I had my 20 AC of forest land there were mounds all over. When I liberally used diamatcious earth on and around the mounds (at least 20# each); they never came back. They must carry the powder throughout and into the birthing areas and the queen. DE is extremely cheap compared to all the name brand products being recommended.

Ron

At 20 lbs/hill where's a place to get it cheap?
TSC has 40lb bags for $18 Red Lake Earth Diatomaceous Earth with Calcium Bentonite, 40 lb. at Tractor Supply Co.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Tractor supply is the last place I would by such a product. Here they are 30% higher than the competition overall. All the retail outlets offer only the pharmaceutical/food grade DE and you want the industrial grade. It is used heavily in industry as a filtration medium. You need to find a local supplier. It will take some effort but the price will come down a bunch when buying in 50 or 100# units. Seam like I paid around 20-30 cents/#. Getting fuzzy now. Local pool suppliers are yet another bad source. Stay away from name branded stuff also and retail stores.

At any rate, first cost becomes small when compared to continuous application of the expensive stuff. DE for me was a one time per hill.

Ron

 

[dieselscout80]

Tractor supply is the last place I would by such a product. Here they are 30% higher than the competition overall. All the retail outlets offer only the pharmaceutical/food grade DE and you want the industrial grade. It is used heavily in industry as a filtration medium. You need to find a local supplier. It will take some effort but the price will come down a bunch when buying in 50 or 100# units. Seam like I paid around 20-30 cents/#. Getting fuzzy now. Local pool suppliers are yet another bad source. Stay away from name branded stuff also and retail stores.

At any rate, first cost becomes small when compared to continuous application of the expensive stuff. DE for me was a one time per hill.

Ron

Ron I see your in Washington STate so I think the imported fire ants we had are a different critter.