Goodbye to Ant Hills in the Garden, Yard, and Terrace: How to Easily Get Rid of These Insects
In Mexican culture, there’s a wonderful saying that highlights an important aspect of nature: “He who is sweet, the ants eat him.” It’s an intriguing phrase that speaks to the fact that sometimes, good-hearted people can be taken advantage of. But it also showcases the incredible adaptability and resourcefulness of ants. These amazing insects can build their homes in the most unusual places! They’re known as ant hills, and they’ve got the skills to create them anywhere. The only problem arises when ants, in their quest for a cozy home, decide to set up shop in your garden.
Why Ants Build Anthills
Much like the Fast and Furious character Toretto, for ants, family is the most important thing. These insects are unique in their ability to work together to form colonies and convert resources into more ants.
According to experts, the colonization process begins when reproductive ants, such as females or winged males, engage in a nuptial flight to mate with individuals from other colonies. Once the new queen is fertilized, she loses her wings and searches for a suitable site to start a new colony. The problem arises when her new “love nest” lands in your garden.
The versatility of these insects allows them to thrive in different ecosystems, mainly in underground anthills or the very recognizable mound constructions. In fact, ants are excellent architects, designing their nests to ensure the right environmental conditions for larval growth, proper ventilation, and even food storage.
How to Eliminate Ant Hills in Your Garden
If ants are so adaptable and have such an efficient teamwork system, how do you get rid of ant hills in your garden? As with most pest issues, prevention is the best way to combat the problem, according to experts.
Although ants, with a few rare exceptions, are not a major health hazard to you or your loved ones, large colonies can cause damage to your garden by preventing grass or other plants from growing. Additionally, they can deteriorate or even undermine cement floors due to the tunnels they create, which over time can affect foundations.
To prevent ants from establishing anthills in your garden, cut the grass regularly and water the garden consistently, as ants do not like humidity. It’s also advisable to plant species with strong scents such as laurel, lavender, cloves, cinnamon, or citrus fruits, since ants are highly sensitive to aromas.
Other experts recommend using cucumber, as it is a natural repellent against ants, especially in its decomposition stage. Surrounding your garden with used coffee grounds can also be effective. Finally, you can use commercial insecticides or sprinkle baking soda to keep these insects away from your home.
The Importance of Ants in the Ecosystem
It’s important to remember that there are over 14,000 species of ants in the world, and they play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and biomass due to their activities in various ecosystems. Ants contribute to soil aeration, nutrient incorporation, seed dispersal, decomposition of organic matter, and even pollination of some plants.
All these activities are vital for agriculture, as they influence soil fertility and plant reproduction. Therefore, it’s best to chase them away from your garden using environmentally friendly methods rather than exterminating them in a way that harms the environment.
By taking these steps, you can protect your garden while also respecting the important role ants play in the ecosystem.
