Lynsey Crombie reveals her hacks to help deter ants
Many gardeners have problems with pests, ants included. Knowing how to get rid of ants will spare gardeners the need to use pesticides. This will not only kill ants, but also useful bugs, other animals and plants. Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pest Control has shared several home remedies that “effectively kill ants or repel them without destroying your plants”.
1. Orange peels
Orange peels are “very useful” when dealing with an ant infestation.
Jordan said: “Believe it or not, they are deadly to ants. The organic components they contain are toxic to the favourite meal of ants – fungi.
“Since ants will search for fungi, if they can’t find them, they will choose another garden. Collect the peels from the oranges you have eaten and spread them in your yard.”
2. Cayenne
Crush and spread some cayenne pepper in a line around the garden to keep ants at a distance. Ants are not likely to cross lines of cayenne pepper.
All gardeners need to do is re-apply after rain and every time the line gets damaged.
3. Hot water
According to Jordan this is the most widely known treatment to get rid of ants in gardens.
He said: “Most gardeners know how to get rid of ants naturally without damaging their plants. They pour boiling water to exterminate them.
“After locating as many entrances to the nest as possible, you can apply boiling water to the nest entrances repeatedly until you kill all ants.”
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4. Washing up liquid
A dishwashing detergent is quite useful for “exterminating” ants. The best part is that it is harmless to plants.
For this method, mix two teaspoons of washing up liquid with four tablespoons of baking soda in one gallon of water.
The pest control expert said: “This solution is deadly to pests. You can use it to spray and/or flood their nests, eradicating the whole ant colony.”
5. Cinnamon
To use cinnamon spread it around the plant gardeners want to protect from ants and “watch as they avoid it”.
Jordan said: “This ingredient doesn’t kill the crawling insects – it simply repels them, which is much more humane than other methods.”
6. Nematodes
Nematodes are microscopic worms, which are harmless to humans and plants.
These natural enemies of ants enter their bodies, “killing them”. If the ants happen to find them nearby, they will search for new places to make colonies.
To use this pest control method to remove ant nests, get a bottle, fill it up with nematodes, and spray the affected areas.
7. Borax and sugar
For more severe cases, it’s good to know how to kill ant nests “fast and effectively”.
Jordan said: “You can use a combination of borax and sugar. It eradicates ants within a week. Mix borax and sugar to create a gel and drop small pieces near the ant nest and close to the ant trails.
“The worker ants will eat some of the mixtures as the sugar attracts them. They will also take the rest of it to the nest for the queen and other ants.
“The boric acid will kill the ants after some time.” This borax mixture is safe for applying around the garden and plants, however beware that it is toxic to both humans and animals.
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