Have you found yourself on a peaceful afternoon on your garden patio, only to be disturbed by an army of tiny ant invaders?
Yes, ants… An insect family member notorious for its relentless determination and impressive organization that can quickly become a nuisance when it sets its sights on any area, be it your outdoor patio or house. Whether ants plunder your picnic or leave unsightly trails across your patio, finding a sure solution to eradicate ants becomes a top priority.
Fear not, for in this guide, at Allan’s Gardeners (London), we explore the know-how and do-how of natural and professional remedies to reclaim your garden patio from ants.
Different Ant Species in the UK
According to official data, or at least what we have at Wikipedia, there are at least 64 species of ants thriving across the UK and while they all have their specifics, getting rid of each isn’t that different from getting rid of the rest, but still it ain’t the same.
Identify What Ant Species is it?
It is crucial to note, however, that some ant species might be more aggressive than others and it’s an absolute must to do your homework and try figuring out which is the one you need to deal with.
You don’t need to get a degree in ant defense systems, but being cautious is mandatory. You wouldn’t want to get stung, bitten, or have a swarm attack you, your loved ones or even pets, right?
Some are rather less hasty, and others would fight rival ant species to protect their territory and you doing your homework on tactics is simply a must.
Assuming you already know what you need to deal with,
Map The Ant Nest
Ant colonies are simple to spot because they produce piles around nest entries and if you want them to leave you alone, that’s where you hit and hit hard. The more mounds, the bigger the colony.
- If you have just discovered a single pile, don’t rush to treat.
- Calm down and take your time to search the perimeter for other outposts.
- In case of multiple mounds, identify what area they occupy beneath the ground.
Try To Jet-Wash Ants Away
Try a powerful and efficient solution – jet washing! Here’s what Allan’s patio cleaning experts had to say:
The force of high-pressure water can effectively blast away those tiny intruders, leaving any patio ant-free and pristine. Jet washing not only removes the visible ants, but it also disrupts their scent trails and nests, discouraging them from returning. Say goodbye to chemical sprays and tedious battles with ant hills – embrace the power of jet washing and reclaim your outdoor space from these pesky pests. Give it a try, and experience the satisfaction of a clean, ant-free patio!
Next, you can combo or do a series of DIY treatments:
Pour Boiling Water Across All Colony Entries
Boiling water is the easiest tactic to eradicate anthills. This treatment is the classic for removing ants quickly.
- Use an electric kettle, or boil it the old way, prep a few liters of boiling water.
- Add a dab of liquid soap to your boiling water to boost efficacy as it stuns ants on top of heat shock.
- Rake the nest open.
- Pour in to kill the nest.
You should also bear in mind that hot water would also damage any greenery nearby. If you don’t want to damage your grass or nearby plants, look into a different tactic.
Important: Aggressive species like fire ants extreme caution. Working swiftly in skin-tight protective clothes may be preferable. Mitigate problems by promptly pouring hot water down the nest.
Pour The Vinegar & Water Mix
If extremely hot water isn’t something you’d like to pour here and there, you could try the vinegar and water mix for getting rid of ants. You could still do both, as this method can work just as well as boiling water.
- Rake the nest open as usual.
- Pour the vinegar and water mixture right in.
Getting your ant problem taken care of using vinegar and water is cost-effective but not as sure as professional treatments. It’s just worth noting that vinegar is harmful to vegetation.
If you’re looking for something that won’t negatively impact your lawn or plants, then vinegar is not going to be completely ideal.
You can spray vinegar and water around your patio to keep ants from wanting to come near it and this works surprisingly well.
Tip: You can use vinegar to make a barriers. Just remember that your vinegar and water barrier isn’t going to last for too long. This works better in an indoor environment, but it can be a good short-term solution to keep ants at bay when you’re just trying to enjoy a summer day on your patio.
Industry-grade (Chemical) Ant Killers
Off-the-shelf products based on hazardous chemicals are the final resort and ideal solution for people who, either don’t want to mess around with DIY, or have no other choice left.
You will likely find in nearby stores some type of pesticide that will work for killing whatever type of ant you have to deal with.
If you want extra guarantees, take pictures of the ants and then ask experts for advice on which chemical ant killing spray will work best (recommended).
Once you find the right one.
- Spray your infested area (patio, garden, etc).
- Destroy the nest.
Using chemical ant killers is practical, but you do have to follow whatever strict instructions its manual has. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work the first time. Ants are crazy adaptive. You might have to buy something more complex than just ant spray if you have a major infestation.
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from professionals when purchasing products like this.
Get Help From Professional Ant Exterminators
Finally, calling exterminators is going to be the simplest way to deal with ants on your patio.
You can have professionals come out to your home and examine your ant problem thoroughly. According to a London ant exterminator from Toxic Respond:
Experienced pros can go through your situation, options and determine the best route to take care of the ants for good.
If you’re worried about dealing with fire ants or if you just can’t be bothered, then calling for help makes a lot of sense. This will likely be more expensive than buying chemical ant killers and handling it yourself, but the professionals will likely eliminate the ants more thoroughly than you could.
If you have the money to spend and you really want the ants gone fast, then this option makes sense for you.
Exterminators are great when it comes to finding ant nests and you might not be able to locate them as easily. Calling exterminators is simple and they will be able to handle your issues swiftly.
Consider whether you’d like to make things easy by just calling for help.
If You Can’t Get Rid Of Ants, Then Try To Control
Using vinegar is one way, but when things are messy, that simply won’t help.
Insecticidal baits work well for most ants. You may not be able to kill the queen at first, but reducing colony reach is a good step towards victory. This makes insecticidal sprays ineffective to exterminate, but control is still good..
Such products will kill workers in reach, but new ones will return soon.
Products To Help Getting Rid Of Ants
The most popular is ant bait. At best, workers eat insecticidal bait and bring it back to feed the queen. Protein and sugar-based products packed with pesticides are the most wide-spread, so try using both at once.
- Boric acid is mildly toxic to people but fatal for insects.
- Fipronil is mostly used to tackle fleas and ticks, but it’s worth adding it to your mix.
- Hydramethylnon has a delayed effect and is used for bait products, so ants can carry the poison back to the queen.
While squeezable gel products are great to treat cracks.
Ants, Patios, Salvation, Final Words
In the battle against ants invading your garden patio, homework and persistence are key. Identify species, map ant nests and target them directly.. Be persistent and adaptable, combining approaches for success. Reclaim your outdoor sanctuary from pesky invaders.
