Question
Help!  We live in northern Michigan, sandy soil and our yard is COVERED with ants.  How can I safely and naturally get rid of the ants?

Answer
Hi Heather;
I recommend going on an organic program, because the soil is constantly improving because of the beneficial microbes etc in the soil.
After you have all the chemicals leached out of your soil, lizards, toads and grass snakes will come to your yard, and they will eat all the ants as well as other harmful insects, including grubs, slugs etc.
Meantime, Lemon oil is a good ant repellent, I am told.
Get lemons and peel them, and grind them up in a food processor etc, so they are fine, and add then to Epsom Salts. Sprinkle this all over the yard, and a little heavier right on the ant beds.
You want a strong lemon oil smell, so use about 4 large or 5 small lemons to about a gallon of epsom salts.
I get it in bags ate Walmart that look like they hold about a half gallon.
After mixing thoroughly, let this stand overnight in a GLASS container, mix again, so all the salts has absorbed lemon oil, and scatter it.
If you use a plastic container, the plastic will absorb the oil, and you will never be able to use it again.
Metal containers will corode because of the acid in the citrus peel.
Charlotte