I’m a pest control expert – seven ways to banish pesky ants from your garden and stop them from ruining plants
A PEST control expert has revealed seven household items you can use to banish ants from the garden.
Although ants aren’t dangerous to humans, they can often wreak havoc in your garden and destroy your plants.
Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pest Control has revealed seven ways to banish them without using pesticides, which can also ruin your plants.
The pest control whizz first recommended using orange peel.
He told the Express: “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.”
Next, he recommended sprinkling cayenne pepper in a line across your garden to keep ants away.
The pesky critters are sensitive to smell and should be put off by the seasoning, but you’ll have to reapply it if the line is broken or if it rains.
Hot water also works well at banishing ants.
Simply pour boiling hot water down ant nest entrances to eradicate them.
A solution of washing up liquid, baking soda and water can also prove fatal.
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.”
Mix two teaspoons of washing up liquid with four tablespoons of baking soda in one gallon of water.
Cinnamon can also work to repel ants like cayenne pepper.
“This ingredient doesn’t kill the crawling insects – it simply repels them, which is much more humane than other methods,” Jordan added.
You could also use borax and sugar by mixing them to create a gel and dropping small pieces near the ant nests if you want to completely destroy the ant colony,
The pest control expert said: “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.”
Finally, you can buy nematodes, a small worm that eats ants but won’t damage your plants.
You can buy them online and fill a bottle to spray the nest.