Hi Guys,

OK, let's start of by telling you what I (think I) know about gardens:
1. They need water
2. I like 'em colourful...
3. ...but colourful doesn't work for the lawn.

Now that you know to use small words when explaining, I a problem that
has stumped me.

I have a coconut palm that has never seemed very happy. For years now,
everything around it has grown well, while this five-foot tree seemed to
be drying out.

Then, a few days ago, I discovered (ahem, my five-year old discovered)
that the mother of all ant colonies where living in the tree, with a
zillion or more eggs in the folds left by the old leaves (the ones
around the base).

Convinced that this was my problem, I proceeded to remove those leaves
as carefully as I could and killed the ants once they were off the tree.
Then, following the advice of family who claims to have green fingers, I
rinsed the tree with a water/washing powder mix.

There are certainly fewer ants now, but looking at the tree closely two
days later, it was clear that it hasn't quite worked. A significant
portion of the colony has survived, and they have simply moved their
eggs to the leaves that are higher up.

Short of ripping off every last leave and spraying the tree with
insecticide (lethal to the tree?), how do I fix this? I'd like to keep
the tree alive, but those tiny buggers must go.

Any ideas,

Regards,

Cobus

"Cobus Kruger" wrote in message
...
Hi Guys,

OK, let's start of by telling you what I (think I) know about gardens:
1. They need water
2. I like 'em colourful...
3. ...but colourful doesn't work for the lawn.

Now that you know to use small words when explaining, I a problem that has
stumped me.

I have a coconut palm that has never seemed very happy. For years now,
everything around it has grown well, while this five-foot tree seemed to
be drying out.

Then, a few days ago, I discovered (ahem, my five-year old discovered)
that the mother of all ant colonies where living in the tree, with a
zillion or more eggs in the folds left by the old leaves (the ones around
the base).

Convinced that this was my problem, I proceeded to remove those leaves as
carefully as I could and killed the ants once they were off the tree.
Then, following the advice of family who claims to have green fingers, I
rinsed the tree with a water/washing powder mix.

There are certainly fewer ants now, but looking at the tree closely two
days later, it was clear that it hasn't quite worked. A significant
portion of the colony has survived, and they have simply moved their eggs
to the leaves that are higher up.

Short of ripping off every last leave and spraying the tree with
insecticide (lethal to the tree?), how do I fix this? I'd like to keep the
tree alive, but those tiny buggers must go.

Any ideas,

Regards,

Cobus

I don't know otherwise, but how do you know the ants are harming the tree?