Mulch Pests- Ants

I apparently made a big boo boo and put in a new mulch bed along the foundation of the house. The back side of the house has about 2-3 feet of foundation from the ground to structure, regardless I see ants crawling up and into the brick... oops.

And those ants are appearing in my bathtub, double oops.

What do you say about planting along the home?

Should I remove the mulch? Place bricks between the bed and home? Just try killing the ants?

I’m wondering if the bed would become inhospitable to ants once plants get established there but for now all I have is a coneflower, sorrel, and comfrey that was just recently transplanted.
I debated just moving the plants and destroying the bed but the comfrey in particular looks way too sickly to move so soon.
:(

For inside the house mix a solution of 50/50 vinegar/water in a spray bottle. Spray this anywhere the ants might walk and the ants too.  You can also spray the bricks outside.

Outside, sprinkle DE wherever you see ants.

I feel your plants are probably okay once the ants are taken care of.

I had an ant highway hundreds, probably thousands of ants right in the path to get into the house. I sprinkled diatomaceous earth in the path. The next day not an ant in sight.  That was weeks ago, and still haven't come back.
I didn't know about vinegar and water Anne, thanks.  I will try that the next time ants invade my kitchen.  I always know when my daughter sees ants in the kitchen because it looks like someone turned the fan on the flower bin.  I hate having DE all over for several days.  It does the trick, but looks terrible.

Jen, I found out about the ants after cleaning my kitchen counters with vinegar.  I came home from work to find dead ants all over the countertop.

I haven't had a problem with food moths since the kids left home though the vinegar spray worked for them, too.

Thank you both!

Unfortunately it’s raining like crazy today, but I did go put DE down while it’s not raining right now. I’m sure it will get washed out later today but hopefully that will discourage them.

Vinegar also has been sprayed, my bathtub looks so bad today... I think they were running away from the deluge into the house :(

At least they get trapped in the tub and end up dying because they can’t escape.