Ants are a common pest that can wreak havoc, particularly if your garden is adorned with patio slabs or paving. As spring arrives with its warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, ants begin to surface, posing a threat to homes if not controlled in gardens.
Whether you’re battling an existing ant infestation on your patio or aiming to prevent one, Steven Walley, a patio and paving expert from London Stone, has some top tips to share. He warns that ants aren’t merely an annoyance or an eyesore in your garden, but they can cause significant damage: “if they dig enough sand out from under your patio slabs or paved driveway, it can cause problems”.
Steven elaborates: “By tunnelling through the sand under and between your paving, they can damage the integrity of the joints, causing paver sinkage.”
This can result in an uneven floor and larger gaps between paving slabs, providing a perfect breeding ground for weeds and moss. The first step in ant control is spotting the signs – look out for piles of sand or dirt left behind as ants burrow under your pavers.
This also signals the proximity of an ant nest, making it an ideal target for any treatments. Ants are especially attracted to gardens by compost bins, household waste bins and standing water, reports the Express.
Steven advises: “If you have a compost bin, make sure it is placed far away from your house and your patio garden as this can attract insects such as ants.”
Steven advises homeowners to keep their bins emptied regularly, both indoors and outdoors, to avoid attracting ants which are often drawn to leftover food and standing water.
He notes that once the source of attraction is dealt with, “ants should naturally move on”. However, for those persistent ant problems, he suggests a few “natural remedies”, including white vinegar.
Steven reveals: “A white vinegar and water solution is a common method to wipe out ants as they don’t like the smell of acidic items such as vinegar.”
To create an effective barrier against ants, mix one part vinegar with three parts water and spray it in areas where ants have been seen. This method helps to “deter the trail”.
Especially if there is a garden patio near your home’s entryway, Steven recommends: “If your garden patio is near the entryway of your home, don’t forget to spray the solution on entry points such as window sills and backdoors, to deter them from coming inside.”
Applying the vinegar solution weekly is likely to show results. Beyond vinegar, the expert also suggests using citrus peelings like lemon, lime, and orange skins, as these can act as a natural deterrent when scattered around entry points.
Additionally, ingredients such as coffee grounds, cinnamon, and salt are noted for their repellent properties, so sprinkling these along entryways could also be beneficial for those struggling with ant invasions.
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