Ants in my plants, I need help

[domino]

I usually go to google to find information but I am having no luck this time so I hope there are gardeners on here that can help. I know nothing about plants.

We moved into our new house in April. There is a large planter that goes all along our back wall. There were a few plants and a rose bush near death when we moved in. I have slowly given new life to some of these plants. I have one plant that was looking really good, then the leaves started to disappear. I went out early one morning and saw large black ants taking leaves and going over the wall. I sprayed ant killer on the wall and the leaves started to return. I was out yesterday and it was looking good. I went out this morning and it was almost bare again! I see no leaves and no sign of the ants but I don't know what else could do it. My rose bush and other plants are fine. Anyway, how do I keep ants away? I don't even know where they are coming in. Here is a picture of the plant in question, I don't even know what it is called.
[IMG][/IMG]

Here is the plant that is next to it and untouched. Also, if anyone knows what this is, let me know.
[IMG][/IMG]

Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.

[wayne foundation 07]

Dianazon , kills them dead.You can get it at Home Depot or Lowes.The spreadedable stuff works great because it stays there for them to eat then die.Good luck.

[wayne foundation 07]

Seven dust would work too,its a powder that will stay on the leaves.

[Mikey]

Could be the ant killer.

Try buying ant poison traps

This feeds ants poison and lets them take it back to the nest.

Its the only way to get rid of all of them and not poison your plants

[Riffster]

[thunderbolt]

Orthene or any granular with Fipronil. If the plant is thorny, its a Bouganvilla. Hard for me to tell i nthe pic.

[jessica]

looks like a bougainvillea.

[raider5gt]

We have Nippon over here,it's a liquid,you put it on a coin,the ants are attracted to the scent and take bits of the liquid back to their nest,wipes them all out.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&k...l_42v0ga5gmu_e

[domino]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I will have to give a few of them a try.

[mazinz]

although a possibility, are you sure they are not carpenter ants? Carpenter ants can be a bit larger than normal and those bait traps and such DO NOT work on them. If anything you need to get a spray specifically made for carpenter ants (which you can find all over the place)

[thunderbolt]

BTW, don't bother looking for Diazanon, it was phased out by the EPA on Dec, 31, 2004. Sevin is either gone or getting phased out, too. a granular with Fipronil as the AI is your best bet, 12 month control on a lot of insects including most ant species.