Convince Ants To Relocate With One Easy Hack

Ants can be a major inconvenience in the yard. Not only do they seem to attend every backyard picnic or barbecue you throw, but they can also damage plants and lawns. Despite the inconvenience they cause, you might not want to actually harm the little insects; just persuade them to move elsewhere. After all, ants are important parts of the ecosystem and can even help to improve your soil. There are a variety of hacks to naturally repel ants, but one good way to convince them to move that doesn't require purchasing any special oils or plants is simply disturbing their nest. 

Before you go bothering any sandy-looking hills, though, it's important to know for sure what insects caused the dirt mound and, if it is ants, exactly what kind of ants you're dealing with. Fire ants are extremely aggressive and have painful stings. They're also invasive. So, unfortunately, it's best to use more lethal means when dealing with them and contact pest control experts. But for Allegheny mound ants and other native species that are harmless to humans, repeated disturbing of their nests can eventually persuade them to move out and find a new home.

Ants, like everyone, want their homes to feel safe and secure. So if they are regularly disturbed, they'll be inclined to pack up and relocate. One of the easiest ways to let them know it's time to move out is by flattening or otherwise destroying their mounds. You can use a rake or other garden tool to do this gently. Be prepared, though — raking the mound once likely won't be enough. You'll probably need to repeat this at least three times for them to finally give up on reconstructing that nest and move elsewhere to build a new one.

Something else to consider before trying this strategy is how far the ants are likely to move when they build a new hill. There's a good chance they won't go far, and then you'll have the same problem just in a slightly different part of your yard or garden. Unless there's only a single spot where you don't want ants, simply destroying the hill may not get you the results you're hoping for. That doesn't mean it's not worth a try, though, especially if you combine destroying the nest with other methods for deterring and repelling ants. For example, in addition to raking the hill, you could also try growing plants with fresh scents like patchouli or peppermint in the areas of your garden you don't want ants to go near. When they relocate, they'll hopefully only move to areas you don't mind sharing with them.