Will our yard be safe for the kids and pets? (Bluffton: move to, area)

[SamanthaG]

Hi there,
We are a family of four and are planning to move to Bluffton in the near future .
I have done some searches regarding pest contoll on the forum and have seen various ways to keep them at bay but my main concerns are that we have two young children and two dogs and would like to know about fire ants. I know there are ways to kill them but this is real area of concern for me with the kids and dogs in the yard.
Do they keep coming back after they are exterminated and what about what is used to kill them? Will it be safe for me to let everyone outside after a while?
I'm not bug phobic but this is really a concern of ours and any info offered would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[SamanthaG]

No one? Is this post in the wrong section??

[Telum Pisces]

Find a place that sells Talstar and spray it in the problem areas. Once dry, it is safe for children and pets. I have been using it for years. I have two young children and pets.

[SamanthaG]

Thank you so very much for your helpful response, I appreciate it!

Sam

[OleTomCat]

The Fire ants will come back, you just have to retreat, it is nearly impossible to kill them....

[SamanthaG]

I've been reading about them and that's what I've found out..
Lord, they are industrious little things!
So they were "imported" from South America! (Thanks a lot ! )

[SamanthaG]

Read about the boiling water treatment which sounds good but I wonder how you know if you got the queen?

Also read they are repelled by mint and to plant it around your patio and driveway since they like concrete....

Interesting but I'm getting itchy !

[OleTomCat]

DO NOT PLANT MINT IN YOUR YARD, unless you want a yard full of mint......

Mint is one of the hardest plants to get rid of once you plant it and it grows profusely.....

Fireants do not like concrete, they tend to build mounds in the grass, I have seen them over three feet high in the woods....

[SamanthaG]

Wow!! Gee, thanks for that because I'm reading all kinds of things on-line here! The last thing I want is an entire yard full of mint!
There was one site that said they also like concrete and showed a photo of an ant hill next to a patio. Guess I shouldn't believe everything I read out there!

[cape_fisherman]

Amdro