Ants are crawling all over the tree. I sprinkled some cinnamin on some of the tree. The tree guy told me to sprinkle something around the bottom of the tree from the dollar store... and I forgot the name. I don't want to harm the birds, just the ants... any more suggestions? And does cinnamin really work? Thanks

Diamataceous earth works really well around any plant or tree or bush you don't want bugs on that eat the leaves. You can't get it at the hardware store and is good for slugs. It chops there little legs right off. No actually, it is very scientific. It is a powder that gardeners have been using for years and is not harmful to the environment because it is pulverized rock.

Yes, I know about diamataceous earth, I still have some to prevent fleas in the house. I just don't know how safe it is around birds and it is rather expensive but worth giving it a try... thanks for your help. Great advise. The thing won't let me rate you because you answered a previous question for me. But I do agree, your answer is accurate.

A granular insecticide in a ring about 1ft diam around tree may help. There's no evidence proper use harms birds, and such small surface & amt would mean little chance bird exposure. A residual spray around btm few ft trunk also not harm any but ants. BTW, diatomaceous earth is made up of shells of marine creatures. It works as insecticide because it's abrasive to insect bodies and cuts dry them out.