A gardening expert has revealed the secret to keeping ants away from your garden spaces using these simple kitchen ingredients that are most likely in your kitchen.
It’s no surprise that bad garden maintenance can lead to the infestation of unwanted guests – but here’s how to keep little critters away without harming them.
Ants, especially black ants, are one of the most common insects in the UK found in many homes and gardens. During the summer months, when temperatures are much warmer, naturally, they’re on the lookout for any nutrients to survive.
These insects gather in large quantities and get easily attracted by the scent of any food that they can acquire, including sugar substances like nectar and honeydew. If this is not dealt with immediately, it can create an inconvenience as it’s very hard to get rid of them.
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But this isn’t a problem anymore. Gardening expert James Higgins at Grass47, he has the perfect solution to all your gardening problems.
Instead of relying on toxic chemicals that may harm the plants and other wildlife, James named some alternatives which you might already have at home.
He said: “If you’re looking for a natural solution to driving away and getting rid of ants, then plants with strong scents such as mint, lavender, and ginger can be ideal additions to your gardens.”
“Ants will be overwhelmed by the scent of these and will steer clear of your garden as a result,” James explained.
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Ants are sensitive to certain smells, as they use this sense to navigate around and locate their food. Strong smells from mint, lavender and ginger cause confusion, which leads them to avoid going to certain areas.
James added: “You should also clean your plants to get rid of any aphids. Aphids are tiny insects that ants feed on, meaning they may come to your garden in search of their next meal.”
“To remove aphids, maintain the cleanliness of your plants by spraying them with water to knock any aphids off of their leaves.”
Using these three simple ingredients which are most likely in your kitchen, you’ll ensure that your garden is free from ants taking over your space. If not, these are easily accessible in any UK supermarket or local store – and they’re affordable.
Nonetheless, it’s still important staying on top of any gardening tasks. Although it might require some time, effort and extra attention, overlooking and accumulating them can lead to a bigger job in the future.