As sunny days beckon us outdoors, we eagerly anticipate the vibrant and lush greenery that comes with the warmer weather. Blooms exploding in a medley of colours brighten our gardens, yet there looms the less welcome sight of ants scurrying about.
Thankfully, a gardening guru has come forward to share his eco-friendly solution for tackling pesky ants everywhere from lawns to patios and even compost heaps—without resorting to any toxic chemicals. For pet owners or households with children, finding a non-harmful way to deal with these insects is essential.
TikTok sensation @themediterraneangardener, followed by hundreds of thousands, says: “Ants can be a real nuisance in the garden, getting in plant pots, compost bins, getting into your patios and making ant hills in your lawn.”
Yet he firmly disapproves of using boiling water or conventional sprays and powders, as these could spell trouble for the environment. Michael promotes a unique “hot, mixed, and moist” strategy.
He clarifies, saying, “If you find an ants nest in your compost bin, putting a lid on will really help. Ants don’t like hot environments and they will move on.”, reports the Mirror US.
Next, take the ‘mix’ step to heart, a method particularly effective in pots and compost heaps. “Simply put, ants don’t like being disturbed. So by agitating the soil or the compost, you will encourage the ants to move on,” Michael shared with his followers.
Contending with ants in areas such as your lawn, patio, or spots difficult to reach?
Water is your ally. According to Michael: “Ants don’t like wet conditions so giving them a good soak regularly will make the ants move on.”
It’s worth noting that the Royal Horticultural Society advises tolerating ants when possible, recognising them as an “important part of the biodiversity gardens can support”.
Yet, they can occasionally become problematic as they shield aphids from natural predators to secure their honeydew supply, potentially leading to further plant damage.
Additionally, ants’ soil disturbance around plant roots may predispose plants to wilting easier, especially if they’re dry at the root region.
Dealing with an uneven lawn surface due to industrious ants?
You could strip back the turf over uplifted areas, extract the surplus soil, then reposition the turf. “This is easier to do in the winter when ants are less active,” notes the society.