'Making a moat to deter ants from your hummingbird feeder can be a family project! The first step is to find a shrub in your yard that has a naturally hollow stem or a soft pith that can be easily cleaned out. Plants like hydrangeas, beauty berry, elderberry shrubs and ash trees have hollow piths (centers). Using pruners, cut a piece that has a side branch or a fat bud area where the moat will sit. The stick is about 6” long. Using a sturdy straight wire (coat hanger) as a ramrod, you will need to push out the center pith. Elderberry shrubs are the easiest stick for this since they have a wide pith. For the moat: Drill a hole in a spray paint can lid or any small, recycled tub-style container. Size the hole to your stick diameter. Insert the stick, hopefully it fits tightly. Position the moat so it sits on top of the widest part of the twig. Thread a strong piece of nylon twine through the hole in the stick. The wire is useful for this task! Tightly tape the string to the wire and thread the 24” piece of string through the stem. Feed the string so it hangs freely on both ends of the stick. Tie something big like a washer or a wooden bead to the ends of the twine so they don’t escape while you are completing the project. For the final step, caulk or use adhesive to seal both sides of the moat container. If the adhesive needs some camouflage, get a few pinches of soil or fine mulch to stick on the outside. Allow the moat to dry. Tie a loop in the top and bottom of the string. Hang it up. But IMPORTANTLY fill the stop of the stick with some adhesive to stop ants from passing through. Add water to your moat and hope there are no leaks! Joyce Browning Horticulturist, Master Gardener Coordinator Video credit: Bethany Evans Longwood Gardens Professional Gardener Program Alumni; CPH The University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center\'s mission is to develop and deliver science-based, sustainable gardening information and solutions through outreach education for better human and environmental health. Send us your plant and pest questions. Our Certified Professional Horticulturists are ready to help! http://extension.umd.edu/learn/ask-gardening Explore our extensive gardening content online. http://extension.umd.edu/hgic'
Tags: green , Organic , friendly , how-to , sustainable , gardening , eco
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