An ant infestation in your garden can damage plants and prevent you from enjoying your outdoor refuge during the warm spring and summer months. Here are some do-it-yourself solutions to help keep your garden ant-free.
Deter Ants
- Ants are repelled by fragrances such as cinnamon and mint. To keep ants at bay, sprinkle one of these essential oils, mixed with water, at the base of plants.
- Certain plants can repel ants and other pests. Incorporate geranium, mint, henbit, chrysanthemum, and garlic into your garden.
- Orange and cucumber peels kill the fungi that ants feed on, forcing the pests to find food elsewhere.
- Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around the garden or in potted plants kills any insects that walk on the sharp and fine crystals, a fine, “natural” alternative to toxic sprays.
Exterminate
- Borax and sugar: Place a mixture of borax and sugar at the base of plants or areas of heavy ant presence. The sugar will attract the ants, while the borax kills them.
- Cornmeal and sugar: Cornmeal will kill ants that consume it.
- White distilled vinegar: Mix 95% water with 5% vinegar and sprinkle it on the nests. It kills ants instantly.
- Dish soap and oil: Combine ½ teaspoon dish soap and 1½ tablespoons of canola oil in a quart of water, whisk well, and pour into a spray bottle. Spray where ants congregate and/or pour some into their nest.
Keep in mind that these methods are often temporary. If the infestation persists or returns, get professional pest removal help in Ontario. JDM Pest Control has your go-to pest control experts in Toronto; contact us for advice on how to deal with an ant or pest infestation. We use safe and eco-friendly materials to get rid of pests once and for all: (416) 729-3568.