Natural Ant Control

5 steps to Control Ants Naturally 

3As spring time blossom often times so do ant populations around your home.  Here are a few tips to reduce ants in and around your home. 

1. Clean kitchens and floors often
2. Removed leaf litter and plant debris in landscaping 
3. Check downspouts and ensure proper water drainage
4.  Trim trees and bushes that touch the home 
5. Reduce mulch usage especially directly contacting home 

STEP 1.
Cleaning kitchens and floors often reduces the food partials ants so desperately need to survive.  Once an ant has found food deposits in a home they will tell the other foraging ants in the area right where to go through the use of pheromones.  If crumbs and food are cleaned often, the occasion ant might stubble in but wont find anything and will eventually move on to the more abundant outdoors. 

STEP 2
Removal of leaf litter and plant debris in landscaping near your home reduces the ant harborages that allow infestations to occur.  Ants love to build colonies under leaf piles as they offer protection from rain and predictors like birds.  Cleaning out window wells and under decks reduces the hiding places for ants and other pests.  

STEP 3 
Checking for proper drainage not only allows for helps to reduce pest problems but also helps protect your home and yard.  Pests love moisture as they need water to survive.  Make sure that your downspouts point away from your home and allow moisture to drain properly.  

STEP 4
Trimming trees and shrubs that touch your home prevents pests easy asses into your home.  Often ants will feed on plants honeydew produced by aphids.  once this food source become runs out, they will start looking for new food sources in your home.  simply trimming any bush or overhang that touches your house can be the difference between an ant infestation or a natural happy outdoors.  

STEP 5
While mulch is great for landscaping as it offers beauty and function it is bad for pests.  Mulch is designed to retain moisture to help keep plants cool and growing during hot summer days.  Unfortunately ants and pests take advantage of this and will thrive in mulch beds.  if possible consider stone or rubber alternatives to wood chips and mulch