Living with ants

If ants stay away from the house, it's live and let live.
However...
There's an ants' nest under and around a pergola/ seating area well away from the house. They're farming aphids on the centaurea . It's Ant City. But I want to plant up some containers in the area.
I don't necessarily want them to move on. I know I could soak them out and they'd move on but maybe to somewhere less convenient. If I could guarantee they'd move next door....
What I was thinking of doing was standing the containers on pot feet inside saucers of water - well not saucers, I use old woks and frying pans.
What do you think?

 

If they are attracted to the aphids, spray the plants with water to remove them. Remove the food source, deter the ants.

 

@BB3, yes I think that might work well but the pot feet might work just as well, the idea being
(I think) that the ants wouldn't walk upside down under the pots if you see what I mean.

You could always set up an experiment!

Our back lawn, being on a slope, warm and sunny on clay soil is just one big ants nest so I have to be careful where I kneel to weed and usually wear wellies to deter them from crawling up my trouser legs. They are vicious as well and don't half bite!

 

Yikes! @lizzie27

 

If you have any used or rinsed-out disposable wet wipes, floor wipes or hand wipes, even Jay Cloths, line the bottom of your pots and then add any stones/broken crocks then soil, I'm told it keeps them out of your pots. I did this a few years back and it worked for me.

 

I haven't got any, but it could be arranged! @The Eden

 

@BB3 Ask @Obelix-Vendée - I'm sure I recall her suggesting a spice ( cinammon or Nutmeg ? ) mixed in with water as they disliked the scent.

 

It's essential oil of cloves @Philippa and @BB3 - one small botthle mixed into 5 litres of water and poured over the ants' nest or trails. They don't like the smell and move on with no harm done to them or any green woodpeckers that may eat them.

 

I sprinkle it on the porch doormat. Smells nice and keeps them out.

 

Thanks @Obelix-Vendée , I might try that next week. Our compost dalek seems overun by ants today, with no sign of any red brandling worms.

Would ants deter the worms do you think or eat them? The worms were in the compost bins a couple of months ago.

Any ideas welcome.

 

If your compost has ants it's too dry @lizzie27 so try adding some moisture anyway.

 

Thanks @Obelix-Vendée Someone on another forum was asking about ants too so I can pass that on. As soon as you said Cloves, it came back to me ( was a few years ago that you suggested it to me tho - that's my excuse anyway )

 

No worries @Philippa. Happy to remind and share. I'm still following your advice on my citrus plant care. Works a treat.

 

Decided to trim the ivy around the steps at the shady end. I uncovered what I assume was a mahoosive ants' nest.
One of them bit me!
I retreated and did a bit of weeding elsewhere.
Imagine if pissmires were as big as rabbits. We'd be done for

 

Why not use ant power, it works well for me, or have I missed something here!