Finding lots of ants in your garden isn’t a bad sign, like if you were to discover rodents or an onslaught of slugs and snails around leafy greens. That doesn’t mean they aren’t a nuisance when they flock to seating and dining areas in your treasured outdoor space. Al-fresco dining attracts ants primarily due to the presence of food and suitable nesting conditions.
They are attracted to sugary substances like nectar and honeydew and will also forage for seeds and other insects. Killing ants is an unnecessary and drastic measure, but gardening expert James Higgins at Grass247 says there are natural ways to deter them from certain spots in your garden. Many non-toxic remedies call for white vinegar or baking soda, but James recommends fragrant alternatives you likely already have in your kitchen.
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.”
Ideal Home noted that if you already have a supermarket mint plant on your kitchen windowsill, you can repurpose it for outdoor use.
How to grow mint
Mint is surprisingly invasive, which is why it is often best to grow it in pots. Pots also allow the plant to be easily moved around to deter ants from hotspots near your outdoor dining table or seating.
Supermarket-bought mint plants or plug plants need to be transplanted to a 30 to 40cm pot with good drainage holes and slightly acidic, good-quality potting soil.
Morris Hankinson, founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries, said: “Your plant may look a little bit lost to begin with in its generous-sized pot… but they grow very quickly, especially when the weather is warm.”
Keep the pot in a very sunny spot (four to six hours per day), preferably in indirect sunlight and keep it well-watered.
James warned that aphids could compromise the effectiveness of mint plants to deter ants.
“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”, said James.
To remove aphids, spray mint plants with water to knock any aphids off their leaves.
When eating outside, you may find ants trailing across your garden furniture; however, simply sweeping them away won’t get rid of them.
James explained that ants leave pheromones to let other ants in the colony know that there is food nearby, so you need to remove these scents to stop their trails.
Wiping down garden furniture with a damp cloth dipped in a solution of one part vinegar to three parts water will remove pheromone traces.
“You can use essential oils such as mint and lavender mixtures to stop ants in their tracks”, said James.
Removing dead organic waste, such as leaves, flowers, and even twigs, from seating areas is worthwhile to avoid attracting ants to your favourite garden spot.