The Best Way To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Garden

Around 15% of animal biomass on Earth is ants, so maybe it's no surprise that there always seem to be so many in your garden. As impressive as ants are, though, they can also be quite frustrating, protecting pesky aphids from predators and even damaging the roots of your plants. There are a variety of methods for dealing with ants, including planting fragrant herbs like thyme in your garden, but one of the best strategies is using diatomaceous earth.

Unlike many pesticides, diatomaceous earth is safe to use around kids and pets. You do still need to be careful with it around bees and other pollinators, as well as flowers that may attract pollinators, though. Diatomaceous earth is a silica powder made from the fossils of tiny organisms. It's effective against ants because it quickly dries them out, causing them to die.

Because of how drying and scratchy it is, you'll want to avoid getting the dust in your eyes or breathing it in. It can also irritate your skin if it gets on your hands. So be sure to use gloves and goggles when working with it. You should also follow any instructions on the label.

Before breaking out your diatomaceous earth, take some time to observe where the ants are coming from and where they're going. Then, on a dry evening, when there is no wind to carry the powder onto pollinator plants, apply the powder along the areas where the ants have been traveling and over any mounds or nests they seem to have. Make sure it doesn't get on any nearby blooms. And for some extra protection for your local bees and other pollinators, wait until after sunset to sprinkle the powder. While diatomaceous earth likely won't destroy the ant colony entirely, it may persuade it to move and relocate out of your garden. Be prepared to repeat the process a few times if necessary.

You may not want to use diatomaceous earth alone if the ants you're dealing with are fire ants. Because of how aggressive these invasive pests are, consider using additional strategies like bait. Just make sure to use one like Esteem that is safe for use around food, if you are putting it in a vegetable garden.

Since ants often form symbiotic relationships with aphids, you may also need to kill the aphids to really get rid of your ants. This can be especially tricky if you have plants that are attracting aphids to your garden. You can use insecticidal soap to remove the tiny insects. Just be sure to read the label and follow the instructions carefully. Simply spraying them off with a garden hose is also effective in many cases.