5/4     I am living in a house with a large garden around it. What's
        a good but cheap way to make sure that the ants don't venture
        into the house during summer?
        \_ when my roommates and i threw out the piles of rotting food, the
           ants left.
           \_ what about the maggots? WHAT ABOUT THE MAGGOTS?
              \_ FLYPAPER!!!!!!
        \_ Leave a trail of sugar from your garden to your house.
                \_ did you mean to say "from your how to your garden" (so
                   that the ants leave the house)?
        \_ Put ant baits at the windows and doors.
        \_ water your lawn before sun rise helps.  and, periodically
           check the seal between your house's fundation and the wooden
           walls.  The concret-like seal tend to break easily, and ants find
           its way in from there.
        \_ buy some chiton based pest control. it shreds the little buggers
           and doesnt poison the earth.
        \_ Dig a 3 foot trench around your house, fill with oil, light.  Refill
           as needed.
           \_ Ah, the Boys from Brazil are back.
        \_ "Grant's Ant Stakes". They work great when put around your house.
           I used to live in SoCal, where ants can be a big problem.