Odorous house ants are common in landscapes and gardens, tunneling through the soil and feeding on dead insects and sweet honeydew. While these ants are persistent, they aren’t dangerous and won’t cause any structural damage to your home. However, because these ants can live in very large nests, they’re often hard to eliminate.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about steps you can take to help keep ants out of your landscaping and thus out of your home.
Trim Plants
trim back your plants and shrubs so they’re at least 18 inches away from structures to help prevent ants (and other pests) from gaining access into your home.
Avoid Using Wood
Many people use driftwood, stumps, or railroad ties for decorating or providing borders for their landscaping. Ants are attracted to moist damaged wood, so consider stone instead.
Don’t Overwater
Make sure you water your plants on a schedule that’s appropriate for them. Overwatering can make them unhealthy and ripe, attracting ants.
Eliminate honeydew-producing insects
Aphids, mealybugs, and scales excrete honeydew which is a sugary substance that attracts ants. Any plants or trees that have fruit or nectar, you may want to relocate further away from your home.
Maintain Healthy Plants
Dying plants are more susceptible to aphids and mealybugs. Keep your plants healthy and remove sick or dead plants from your garden or landscaping.
Your Local Ant Exterminators
Odorous house ants are one of the most common nuisance pests that plague both businesses and homeowners. These ants commonly nest under stones, mulch, logs, and other debris.
Although they feed on dead insects and meats, odorous house ants prefer sweets, especially honeydew, the sugary waste aphids, and mealybug excrete — which can explain why you commonly see ants in your landscaping or garden.
Whether you’re dealing with an ant problem or need help making your property ant-free, we can help. We provide safe and effective pest control to keep your home or business pest-free year-round. So give us a call today for a free estimate!