Some homeowners don't mind ants, while others do. They may seem harmless at first, until you have colonies crawling in areas of your yard you may not want them to. There are many species of ants throughout the world, some of which are more of a problem than others. Regardless of the type, consider these tips to keep ants from marching into your yard.
Some homeowners don't mind ants, while others do. They may seem harmless at first, until you have colonies crawling in areas of your yard you may not want them to. There are many species of ants throughout the world, some of which are more of a problem than others. Regardless of the type, consider these tips to keep ants from marching into your yard.
There are certain sites in a yard that ants may be attracted to, the San Francisco Chronicle stated. Some of these sources include compost or wood piles and trash bins. Ants may also like rotting vegetables or fruits from any trees or gardens in the yard. Dispose of this organic matter accordingly. Keeping these sites away from your house will prevent ants from creeping through your yard and possibly into your house.
For some reason, ants love an unhealthy yard, Lawncare-Made-Easy.com noted. Land that has stressed-out dirt or patches of grass are very welcoming to ants that are looking to colonize. Keep the yard healthy through proper maintenance and watering to prevent ants from making your property their new home.
Keep your yard clean of crumbs and other food. If you have a picnic or barbecue, pick up after the event and dispose of any food or beverages that may bring pests. If no food is around, that doesn't mean ants won't come. These insects are also happy to feed on particular types of fungi that are naturally occurring. Destroy them in your yard by distributing cucumber and orange peels in areas that you know ants might walk through. These peels have compounds that break down the fungus. Without food, ants will have to take up residence elsewhere.
If you notice a few ants around, there are likely more hanging nearby. If you see an ant colony on your property, there are a few homemade solutions to get rid of it. Get a container of crushed red pepper flakes and sprinkle it directly on the ant mound or hill. The heat will irritate ants and cause them to flee. If you're out of pepper, powdered garlic or garlic cloves also do the trick.
If you do have an ant infestation in your yard, they're not so easy to get rid of - especially on your own. Call pest management services to properly eliminate ants from your yard and prevent them from coming back.