How to Get Rid of Ants in the Garden Without Harming my Plants

Ants can be a nuisance in your garden. From nesting in plant pots to making ant hills in your lawn, not to mention occasionally wandering inside of your home. However, they won't do any serious damage to your garden, unlike the products you might use to get rid of them. Here's how to get rid of ants in the garden without harming your plants.

Common ants you'll see in the garden

The most common ant you'll see in the garden is the black ant. They nest under pavements, in soil, and in pots and compost heaps.

Another common garden ant in the UK is the yellow meadow ant. If mounds appear in your lawn, this species is most likely the culprit. Both black and yellow ants are harmless to humans.

Do ants damage your garden?

Ants cause very little damage in the garden, although if they build a nest in a plant pot this can affect the root ball of the plant and it may wilt. Ant hills in grass may not look the best, but they cause no damage to the lawn or your garden.

How can I get rid of ants in the garden without damaging my plants?

If you see ants scurrying around your garden, it can be tempting to reach for the sprays and powders. However, many insecticides can leach into soil and harm plants as well as insects that are beneficial for your garden.

Here are some ways you can get rid of ants without harming your plants or other species in the ecosystem.

Spritz vinegar around to destroy ’ant trails'

Ants looking for food leave pheromone trails behind to attract other ants to the food. Mix one part white vinegar with three parts water and spray on pathways. This should destroy any chemical trail and at the very least, stop any more ants turning up and heading for your home.

Water potted plants regularly

If ants are nesting in plant pots, watering your pots regularly can help move them on. Ants prefer dry environments and they'll soon get the message that the pot isn't a good place to nest.

Use gel baits

Toxic gel baits are applied in bait stations which don't need to go anywhere near your plants. Worker ants are attracted to the bait then they take it to their nest and share it with other ants. This can take a few weeks to be completely effective, but you should see a reduction in ant numbers after a couple of days. Remember the golden rule, to treat an ant infestation, you have to treat the nest.

Having problems with ants?

Getting rid of ants from your garden without harming your plants can be a challenge. When it comes to dealing with an infestation, DIY treatment might not completely solve the problem. You can use DIY products on the ants you see, but to eliminate an infestation, you need to treat the nest.

The only way to guarantee the safe eradication of an ant infestation is to call in professional pest control. We'll identify the infestation, treat the nest, and recommend some steps you can take to stop it from happening again.

Want to protect your home and garden, and save your precious plants from ruin?

Call Contego.