Ants Be Gone

There are lots of organic ways to discourage ants from being in an area you prefer them not to be. The first is a list of suggested deterrents, the second is elimination. To remove the food or other source of attractant is the first step. You can discourage additional visits by destroying their scent trail – read on!

Baking soda, cinnamon, baby powder, cayenne pepper and chalk can all used to create a “barrier” that ants will not cross. You can surround an area and create a defensive line around a bed or plant that the ants are creating a problem at. The advantage to chalk is that you can use it on vertical surfaces. None of the substances are poisonous and shouldn’t bother pets. Although be careful to not use cayenne if there are young children around – a fingerful to the mouth can ruin your entire day and theirs!

For sprays, many things are used to remove ants from an area. Ants detest citrus oils, so a spray made with lemon peel/juice or orange rinds will deter them from an area. A vinegar spray is most effective too. Several gardeners recommend putting a tad of honey in your vinegar spray, but I found that a spray of just white vinegar around an a doorway very effective. Another spray that is touted as being very successful is an eucalyptus based. Simply mix 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil per 2 cups of water to a spray bottle (Always label your bottles clearly) shake well and spray away.

A couple of natural deterrents are cucumber peels (the more bitter the cuke the better!) The chinese bitter cucumber peels work the very best – a line of them will send a pack of ants packing elsewhere. Mint is also a natural deterrent – be careful about planting it as a companion plant as it can become very aggressive and spread easily. Mint tea bags are a great defense and easily removed – ring the subjected plant and ants be gone! Coffee grounds can be used to ring a plant as a deterrent, too.

Now if elimination is key, there are some ways to kill ants…. Cornmeal is the easiest. Ants cannot digest it and they will take it back to the nest and it will continue to do damage there. A killing spray can be achieved by mixing of 1/8 teaspoon of powdered borax and sugar or honey will attract and kill ants. Worker ants take it back to the nest and pass it onto other ants, killing the colony. Caution using borax – it can kill in large doses – label this mix clearly and keep away from children and pets.

In the past I have used a cayenne, garlic oil spray to deter ants – See the previous article on organic pest sprays.