Ants are a kind of insect that can be seen in almost all places on earth. They have been living with human beings from ancient times. The presence of ants in the garden is quite disturbing. It is tiring trying to get rid of them so that they would not pose any more danger to your plants, flowers, or trees.
In your garden, what do ants do?
An abundance of ants in your garden can have numerous detrimental effects and attract more unwanted pests. Ants can cause damage to both your person and property, depending on the species. For example, farm ants sting when disturbed or observed as a threat, making gardening an unpleasant experience when you’re simply caring for your plants. It is the same reason some species bite, such as carpenter ants. A type of acid is sprayed into the wound after an ant bites.
If you start suffering bites and stings while pruning, planting, or inspecting your plants, it’s enough to keep you away from the garden. Even if some unwanted ants are sharing your outdoor space, we’re here to help make sure you can continue to enjoy it.
Types of Ants
There are so many different types or kinds of ants that can be seen almost everywhere on earth. Ant nests depend on specific locations and climate conditions. Some ants live underwater for gathering food; other types prefer dry areas, primarily deserts, because there they get significantly less water than wet areas where raindrops provide them with a sufficient amount of water for survival.
How to get rid of ants in the garden?
If you are looking for the best methods for getting rid of ants in the garden, this article will be helpful for you. Ants can be annoying and sometimes very problematic when it comes to your garden. They can also ruin all your hard work by having a picnic on your prized plants and fruits.
Many people choose to use pesticides and insecticides that might even end up hurting their pets and kids or getting into their food. There aren’t many organic ways to get rid of pests like ants, but we’re here today with some excellent tips that will show you how to get rid of ants organically!
1. Keep It Clean
One way for how to get rid of ants organically is simply keeping things clean and clutter-free. Ants love dark and damp places to live, and they also like leftover food and grease. So make sure you throw away any food that might be leftover, wipe up pieces of fat or crumbs on the floor or kitchen area and keep your house clean.
2. Cinnamon and Pepper
Another excellent method for getting rid of ants organically is mixing the cinnamon powder with pepper powder (equal parts) and sprinkling it around the outside exit points of the ants. They won’t like it one bit! You can reapply this mixture after rain or once a week until they don’t return anymore.
3. Boiling Water
This is an effortless way to get rid of ants organically and naturally as well – bring a pot of water to boil and then pour it over an anthill or area where they are entering your house. Just make sure that you don’t harm any plants in the process – it can be scorching when boiled, so take care!
4. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Diatomaceous earth or DE is fossilized silicon dioxide made up of remains of diatoms which are one-celled plants. This powdery substance is highly effective in killing ants when it mixes with their body fluids (or saliva).
It also doesn’t affect the soil outside in any way, but you must ensure that you buy food-grade DE that is meant for gardening purposes only. Food grade diatomaceous earth contains no crystalline silica, which is carcinogenic. Mix DE with water, lemon juice, or vinegar and apply it around ants’ entry points.
5. Use Natural Repellants
Many natural items can repel ants – camphor, peppermint leaves (bring them inside your house!), basil leaves, lavender oil, etc. You can even make an excellent repellant at home by mixing ten parts of water to one amount of eucalyptus oil and spraying this mixture around your house. Soak cotton balls in this solution and place them near the areas where you saw the ants entering your home or kitchen!
6. Introduce Ants to Ladybugs
Ladybugs or ladybirds are very efficient at controlling the ant population as ants are their favorite food. You can introduce ladybugs to your garden or place them inside your house in any open gaps where ants might be entering the house. They love dark and damp places, so you may want to spray some DE at those areas as well.
7. Make a Sugar & Boric Acid Mixture
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Mix boric acid with sugar (equal parts) until it forms a thick paste-like consistency – apply this paste near entry points of ants, and they will take it back with them to the colony. The boric acid kills them slowly but surely! It’s an excellent method for getting rid of ants organically and safely since it won’t harm your pets or kids, plus it doesn’t affect the soil outside in any way.
8. Baking Soda
Another excellent natural ant killer is baking soda – mix it with equal parts sugar and sprinkle it over the ants’ entry points. Ants love sugary things, so they’ll flock to it in no time! This mixture will take care of them very quickly, but you can reapply after rain or once a week for best results.
9. Use Household Products Safely
There are many everyday household products that you can use to get rid of ants organically without using harmful chemicals, pesticides, etc. Try using vinegar, lemon juice, bay leaves (you can place them around your plants!), cloves, mint leaves, etc. Mix 2 tbsp. of boric acid powder into 1 cup of corn syrup and then drip it around the points where ants appear and reapply every week for best results.
10. Use Cornmeal
Ants love corn, so mix up some cornmeal with boric acid powder (equal parts) and sprinkle it around ants’ entry points. They’ll just eat this mixture and take it back to their colony, where they all meet a prolonged and painful death! This is one organic solution that works if you use it constantly!
How to get rid of ants in the garden soil?
Remove Sources of Food and Water
Ants are attracted to sources of food and water, so the first step in getting rid of them is to remove these sources. Make sure your garden is not overwatered, and promptly clean up any food spills or fallen fruit. You can also use ant baits or traps to lure them away from your garden.
Use Natural Repellents
There are several natural repellents that you can use to deter ants from your garden soil. Diatomaceous earth, cinnamon, and coffee grounds effectively repel ants. Sprinkle these substances around your garden beds, and the ants will avoid these areas.
Create Physical Barriers
Another way to keep ants out of your garden soil is to create physical barriers. You can use sticky petroleum jelly or duct tape to create a barrier around your garden beds. This will prevent ants from accessing your plants and damaging the roots.
Conclusion
This was a simple, quick, and practical guide on getting rid of ants organically and naturally. It just takes a bit of patience to ensure that you find all the entry points where ants are entering your house or kitchen from! For best results, try implementing more than one method above for the total elimination of these pesky little pests. You can even make your repellant using the eucalyptus oil (10 parts water: 1 part oil) and spray this mixture around the areas where you see ants.
Apart from this if you are interested to know more about Practical Tips On How To Get Rid Of Termites In Your Home then visit our PEST CONTROL category.
