Ants are not uncommon in gardens, but if not checked, you could be facing an infestation, leading to extensive damage.
Like every other gardener, I’ve encountered this problem quite a few times. Initially, I didn’t think much of it; they appeared to be tiny, harmless organisms on the lookout for food. But gradually, I noticed ant colonies being built everywhere in my garden. And slowly, my plants and produce were infested with ants.
I could see the time and efforts invested in growing them going down the drain. That’s when I knew something had to be done. Without wasting even a minute, I started looking up information online, hoping to find effective ways to deter ants without causing any harm to my property.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Smith, your friendly lawn care expert. And today, I’m going to share my findings on how to get rid of ants in garden areas. I’ll be highlighting a few tips and tricks, which have worked for me so far.
So, without further delay, let’s get right into it!
How To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Garden?
Ant infestations can be a serious threat to the plant life in your garden. So, you’ll need to eliminate them, not just by spraying an ant killer on their never-ending trail. First, find the source, and then use the following methods to get rid of them once and for all.
(A) Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Ants
In this section, I’ll be suggesting a few natural ways of getting rid of ants both indoors and outdoors.
1. Hot Water
Locate the entrances to the ant nests in your garden and pour boiling water inside. The only problem with this method is that you may have to keep doing this until all the ants are dead.
2. Sugar And Boric Acid
In my opinion, this is probably the most effective yet natural home remedy for eliminating ants. All you have to do is mix boric acid with sugar to make a paste; then, use small amounts of this paste around the anthills. The ants will be drawn to the sweet smell of sugar, and shortly after consuming the paste, they’ll die due to the presence of boric acid.
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3. Oil And Dishwashing Liquid
This is another effective way to eliminate ants as the oil and dishwashing liquid soak into the ant exoskeletons, suffocating them. Just mix half a teaspoon of olive or canola oil with the same amount of the liquid soap.
Add 1 quart of water to the mixture and pour the solution into a spray bottle to spray it around your garden. The rest of it can be directly poured into the anthill.
4. Vinegar
Try pouring around 1 liter of white vinegar directly into the ant nest. It won’t cause any harm to your plants or the soil but will kill the ants instantly.
5. Growing Insect Or Ant-Repelling Plants
Insect-repelling plants like lavender, rosemary, peppermint, thyme, or even garlic can be planted in the garden to keep ants away from your property. They give out a strong smell that most insects, including ants, can’t stand.
6. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
If you haven’t heard about food-grade diatomaceous earth, it’s the fossilized remains of phytoplankton that comes in the form of a talc-like powder. All you have to do is sprinkle it around the plants and in the other areas of your garden, covering the ant trail. Just make sure the soil is dry to ensure the best results.
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7. Nematodes
Microscopic worms are the natural predators of ants. While the tiny worms set out on their hunt, the ants will most likely search for a new home to avoid being near their arch-nemesis.
8. Cayenne Pepper
You may apply cayenne or even black pepper directly to the garden soil to get rid of ants. Another way of application involves mixing it with water in a 2:1 ratio and then spraying the solution all around your garden.
(B) Commercial Ways To Get Rid Of Ants
If none of the methods serve the purpose, try using the following methods as your final resort:
1. Ant Killers
Commercial ant killers are available in both powdered and gel forms. The powdered poisons are best for indoor ant infestations; using them in your garden might affect the soil and plants because of their toxic nature.
So, it’s better to use the ant killer gel; it works similar to the boric acid and sugar paste. The ants will be drawn to its sweet smell, and they’ll carry the gel back into the anthill for their queen. As a result, the entire colony of ants will be eliminated. You won’t even have to worry about your plants as ant killer gels don’t pose any threat to the environment.
2. Ant Extermination
If none of the tips and tricks work, your final resort is to hire a professional exterminator for the task at hand. They’ll come equipped with all the supplies required to put an end to your garden invasion.
- Attracts & Kills – Kills common household ants including acrobat, crazy, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, and other sweet-eating ants
- Kills the Ants You See & the Ones You Don't – As worker ants discover the bait, they share it with the rest of the colony to eliminate them all
- Works Fast – You should see a significant decrease in the number of ants visiting the bait stations within just a few days
- Attracts & Kills – Kills common household ants including acrobat, crazy, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, and other sweet-eating ants
- Kills the Ants You See & the Ones You Don't – As worker ants discover the bait, they share it with the rest of the colony to eliminate them all
- Works Fast – You should see a significant decrease in the number of ants visiting the bait stations within just a few days
Summing It Up
On that note, it’s time for me to sign off. But before that, here’s a small piece of advice for all my wonderful readers.
Try to implement the natural methods of eliminating ants before hiring professional help or using a commercial ant killer to ensure that no harm is caused to your plants. Also, I’d suggest opting for these methods only if absolutely necessary.
After all, ants maintain a healthy ecological balance while controlling unwanted pests naturally. That being said, I’ll now take your leave. Do let me know if you come across any other effective way to get rid of ants in the comment section below. I’d appreciate your input!
Also, feel free to ask questions related to lawn care or the topic itself. I’ll try to address your concerns at the earliest!