Red ants in a raised bed

Question

I’ve been reading about methods of getting rid of a red ant colony I found when uncovering a raised garden bed I’ll be planting with tomatoes. Sprinkling dry molasses or sugar over the bed seems to be a popular method, with boiling water a close second. It’s a 4′ x 8′ bed and will be about two feet deep when I’m done adding stuff. How important is it to get rid of the ants, and what’s the safest way to do it without harming the tomato plants?

Answer 1

I would not recommend the hot water, this will kill the plant roots.
I'm not familiar with the molasses application, though it may be the sugar aspect in the molasses.
Here is a link with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/get-rid-of-ants.htm