- 1). Put on protective clothing or tuck pant legs into socks to prevent ants from crawling up pant legs. Wear protective gloves.
- 2). Sprinkle baby powder on the end of a shovel and around the inside of a terracotta flower pot. Baby powder will help keep ants from climbing up the shovel or through the pot.
- 3). Place the large bucket or tub of hot water near the fire ant mound.
- 4). Dig down into the fire ant mound several inches, removing the top part of the mound. Place dirt and ants into the tub of hot water. Avoid digging into flowers, roots and bulbs if possible.
- 5). Place the terracotta pot upside down over the remaining mound quickly. Put a funnel through the hole in the flower pot and pour boiling water into the funnel. Pour enough water to flood the fire ant tunnels and kill the queen.