Question
I've read that things like orange oil, molasses can help reduce fire ants and be beneficial to your lawn. Does it have to be dry molasses? Anything special about it?? Where's the best place to get the molasses???

Answer
The friendly Texas Dirt Doctor, Howard Garrett, posts a whole essay on this very subject, dear:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=1249

'Dry molasses isn抰 really straight dried molasses. It抯 molasses sprayed on a grain residue carrier. It抯 an excellent Carbon source that stimulates beneficial microorganisms. And, it repels fire ants.'

Got that, Joanna?  Molasses DOES NOT EQUAL Dry Molasses.  They are two different animals.  This isn't 'wet molasses' and 'dry molasses'.

Now, you must understand, we do not have those awful little creatures you are writing about, Fire Ants.  Of course we have plenty of other problems, I'd switch our terrorist problem with your Fire Ants any day, but if you can control those Fire Ants without hurting God's Green Earth, you will be doing that the right way.  And there is nothing more important than that.

One of Mr Garrett's sponsors is a company called 'Soil Mender'.  They have a website selling a 5 lb bag for about $11, plus (I expect) shipping and handling and maybe even tax in Texas.

http://016e65e.netsolstores.com/soilmenderdrymolasses5lbbag.aspx

There are certainly other vendors out there.  I confess I have not purchased Dry Molasses -- it is probably a very good amendment, in the universe of amendments, with the added value of Fire Ants control.

Mr Garrett also speaks on Orange Oil:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_org_research.php?id=38

and he enthusiastically endorses 'Safer抯 Fire Ant Control'.  The formula is based on joint research at Texas A&M and University of Texas at Austin.  Ditto 'Orange Guard'.  But he also points out that you don't necessarily have to buy Orange Oil -- you can also make it, although it will be a little weaker than the commercial formulas. Mr Garret's recipe:  'Put a bunch of citrus peelings in a container and cover them with water.  Let them sit for a couple of days, then strain off the liquid.'  Commercial Orange Oil will be stronger, he points out.  To me, that means it will be more effective.  That means something.  In this particular case it may be better to buy the stuff if you can afford to do that.

Thanks for writing, Joanna.