How To Control Ants In The Vegetable Garden

So far, we've provided gardeners with humane tips to articulate their vegetable gardens of unwanted rabbits, squirrels, and cats. Methods ranged from ultrasonic devices to physical barriers. Still, emmet infestations are a different animal of a problem. Too small to be restrained by fences and too numerous to be relocated, nosotros'll assist you tackle your ant result by providing not-toxic methods used successfully by other gardeners.

If you tin come across the anthills, pouring boiling water over them several days in a row is a groovy way to reduce or eliminate an ant colony. If you can't see their hills, read on.

Ground cinnamon

While not the cheapest method, sprinkling ground cinnamon forth the perimeter of your garden (or any surface surface area, for that matter) will repel ants, only not kill them. Create a thick line that will force ants to climb over and sentry both cerise and black ants reject to do then. Cinnamon will likewise reduce the amount of ants in your compost pile if they are bothersome.

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Diatomaceous earth

Created from the crushed shells of fossilized diatoms to form a fine powder, this substance actually consists of incredibly sharp edges that will penetrate an ant'south body, causing it to dice of dehydration within two weeks.

Although incredibly lethal to insects, diatomaceous world will not damage humans or family pets. Be sure to apply 100% food form diatomaceous earth in your vegetable garden. Prices are reasonable on Amazon.com, with a v-lb pocketbook at a depression cost.

Mixture of cornmeal, borax, and love

Cornmeal is an inexpensive method to reduce (read: not eliminate) the pismire population, simply will take some time to piece of work. Information technology'due south also completely prophylactic for your vegetable crops. Yet, if you mix cornmeal with borax (a household compound found in toothpaste or soap), you'll see results much more chop-chop. Borax is extremely lethal to ants when ingested and also harms their outsides.

Add a bear on of honey to mask the sense of taste of borax and to attract ants. Place the mixture where there is a heavy concentration of ants: yous can even go out it in the mixing basin. Ideally, the sticky substance will be taken back to the colony and kill the queen as well.

You can observe borax here, and cornmeal here.

Employ benign nematodes

These worms can repel ants, beetles, moths, flies, and fleas. How can a worm do all of this? These microscopic creatures enter host bodies and excrete leaner from their digestive tract that proves lethal within 24-48 hours.

Withal, nematodes can simply be applied to garden soil that is between 42-90 degrees Fahrenheit. In add-on, y'all should make sure the air temperature is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Beneficial nematodes can be purchased at nurseries or online. You can find them here.

Orange guard

If you lot can't find the source of the colony, y'all can at least target the ants themselves. Orangish Guard is a liquid spray that includes simply natural ingredients (the master ingredient is orange peel extract, otherwise known as d-Limonene). This product is non harmful to garden soil or surrounding environment and is EPA-registered. Since all ingredients are nutrient grade, it also won't damage your crops.

A majority of consumers attest that this $8 production (32 oz) does what it claims, but i customer warns that the essential oil in d-Limonene is not completely safe for cats, then conduct this in mind if you decide to buy.

Provide strategically placed trap or repellent crops

Scented marigolds typically repel ants, although some gardeners have actually experienced ant attraction. Either way, ants may get out your vegetable crops alone. Other plants that have been suggested to repel ants? Artemisia, catnip, pachypodiums, adeniums, optunias, chrysanthemums, garlic, spearmint/peppermint, and tansy. Plant these around or in your garden to help reduce ingather devastation from ants.