Ant Control Tips For Your Yard And Garden
Ants are often thought of as an indoor pest. You certainly become more alarmed when you come across an ant in your kitchen than when you find them on the sidewalk. However, this does not mean you want to see ants in your garden or yard. After all, if you have a lot of ants outside, they are more likely to wander inside your home, too. Here are some ways you can keep creepy, crawly ants out of your yard and garden:
1. Keep the trash cans clean
Your trash cans hold trash, and sometimes even after the trash is emptied, there are little remnants left behind that can attract ants. It only takes one little smear of jam to feed an army of these tiny insects! Make a habit of cleaning your trash cans periodically. You can do it just once a month if you're really good about always putting your trash in bags, but you may want to do it once a week if you're not as tidy with your garbage.
2. Don't let fruits and veggies sit too long
This one mostly applies if you have a vegetable garden or fruit trees. Keep in mind, however, that even trees that produce fruit you would not really eat — like crabapples — are appealing to ants. Pick your veggies as soon as they ripen. Do not let fruit sit on the ground for more than a couple of days before cleaning it up.
3. Spray the sidewalk cracks with insecticides
If you have any sidewalks or paved areas in your yard, these are popular places for ants to gather. Specifically, they like to hang out in the cracks of the sidewalk. You can prevent them from building nests in these areas by spraying insecticides along the cracks every week or two. It's better to spray preventatively than to try to get rid of ants that have already moved in.
4. Keep wood in good shape
This tip is mostly useful for keeping carpenter ants away, as they feed on rotten and moist wood. However, some smaller ant species will also nest in and eat rotten wood on occasion. Apply sealer to your fencing, deck, and other wood items annually to keep them from deteriorating. If you do see any rotten boards, have them removed and replaced ASAP.
With the tips above, you can keep ants out of your yard and garden. Reach out to an ant control company to learn more.