How to Remove Ants Naturally From Flower Beds
- 1). Cover your flower bed with aromatic cedar mulch. Cedar mulch can repel some ants, such as Argentine ants, but will not always work.
- 2). Place a thin layer of diatomaceous earth over the flower bed. Diatomaceous earth contains the fossilized remains of diatoms. It removes the waxy outer covering in ants and causes them to dehydrate.
- 3). Treat the mound with an insecticide that contains d-limonene. D-limonene is a chemical found in the extract of citrus peels. It can also be found as an ingredient in organic ant repellents. D-limonene works as both an ant repellent and an ant killer and is harmless to animals and people.
- 4). Treat the mound with an insecticide that contains pyrethrin. Pyrethrin is extracted from chrysanthemum flowers. It breaks down very quickly in the environment.
- 5). Use bait that contains borax or boric acid. Boric acid is derived from the mineral boron. It can be found in some commercial bait, but you can mix your own by mixing 1 part borax or boric acid powder with 50 parts food material. Food material can be honey, peanut butter, jelly, corn syrup or something similar. Mix the bait together and place it in a jar with several holes punched into the lid. Place the bait near the mound. If you notice the ants are not feeding on the bait, try using a different food material.
- 6). Pour boiling water onto the mound. Boiling water is only effective at killing the colony if the mound is small, but it may be enough to disturb the nest and cause it to move. Be careful to protect your flowers from the water as it can kill them, too.
