Keep Ants Out Of Your Garden With A Natural Solution You Likely Already Have On Hand

As small and innocent as one ant may be, the unfortunate truth is that if you find one, you'll likely find many others nearby. Ants are known to be social creatures that live in colonies where each member plays a specific role to keep the community operating smoothly. In our gardens, ants have the potential to damage crops and young seedlings or protect insects that harm our plants. 

Pest control companies have long handled ant infestations, but industry trends are pointing toward a growing interest among homeowners toward DIY solutions, mainly for financial reasons. Consumers also are seeking to be more environmentally sensitive with sustainable and eco-friendly treatments. For example, instead of spraying chemicals, you can naturally repel ants from your garden by planting this fragrant herb.

If you're looking for a way to get rid of ants and — as trends indicate — you want an eco-friendly DIY option, consider using black pepper. This common pantry spice is also known to deter cats from peeing in yards and keep squirrels out of vegetable gardens. Similarly, black pepper has been found to repel some types of ants. A 2017 study published in the ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences found that black pepper is an effective repellent and insecticide against the Tapinoma sessile ant, or odorous house ant, native to most of North America. In addition, an experiment conducted by Texas A&M University's Department of Entomology discovered that a mixture of water and black pepper effectively killed pavement ants, more so than mixtures of cinnamon/water and cumin/water. 

Black pepper gets its pungent smell and spicy flavor from special oils and a natural chemical called piperine. Because ants have strong scent receptors, they are particularly sensitive to and irritated by the spiciness of the piperine — and they don't want anything to impede their sense of smell. When an ant's capacity to smell is disrupted, this can impact its ability to "read" messages left by other colony members. For example, ants relay directions to food sources by leaving a scent trail for other ants from the same colony. If an ant cannot navigate or identify the scent trail, they are lost. 

To get rid of ants in your garden with black pepper, sprinkle the spice to create barriers around the areas you want to protect — for example, a particular garden bed or at the base of specific plants. You can also make a spray combining a teaspoon of black pepper with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Remember to reapply the pepper after watering your garden or after a rainy day. If you are using a large amount of pepper, keep your dog away from the area as the spice may be slightly irritating if ingested. However, a small amount won't harm them.