what kind of plants get rid of ants

Are there plants that can repel ants? Answer Some herbs that will keep ants away are catnip, pennyroyal

, peppermint, sage, and spearmint. Scattering the leaves of these plants in areas of your house where you’ve seen ants may keep them away.

Full Answer

What plants repel fire ants?

Plants that Repel Ants

1. Lemongrass. Well, it is one of the main sources of citronella so if it cannot repel ants and other insects, we don’t know what would.
2. Rosemary. It is not as minty as the mint but it sure is a potent ant repellent because it gives off a strong aroma when it is crushed which ...
3. Mint. ...
4. Tansy. ...
5. Cloves. ...
6. Wormwood. ...
7. Feverfew. ...
8. Pennyroyal. ...

What plants keep away ants?

Plants That Keep Ants Away

• Pennyroyal. Pennyroyal is a relative of mint and has leaves that look similar. ...
• Mint. Spearmint peppermint or any other means can help repel ants by clogging up their sense of smell, making it hard for them to communicate.
• Lavender. Lavender is a lovely plant. ...
• Rosemary. ...
• Sage. ...
• Catnip. ...
• Tansy. ...

Are there plants that can repel ants?

The Best Plants That Repel Ants

• Rosemary. Not aromatic as the mint and lavender, rosemary can still drive ants away. ...
• Thyme. Thyme has a dual purpose. Of course, it’s one of the best herbs you can use for cooking delicious recipes.
• Tansy. This flowering plant is super unique. ...
• Marigold. Again, the marigold plant is also a good plant to grow inside or outside if you drive ants naturally.

What plants repel rodents?

Which plants will repel pests?

1. Lavender. Repels mice, moths, and beetles. ...
2. Marigolds. Marigolds are well known for their pest repellent stink. ...
3. Catnip. Cats love catnip, but most other creatures don’t. ...
4. Garlic. Most bugs simply detest the smell of garlic, and will avidly avoid any area in which it’s planted. ...
5. Chrysanthemums. ...
6. Citronella grass. ...
7. Lemongrass. ...

What is the best plant to repel ants?

What plants help deter ants?Rosemary.Lavender.Catnip.Peppermint.Mint.Thyme.Tansy.

What kind of plants kill ants?

Chrysanthemums deter ants due to the toxic pyrethrins present in the flowers of some of them. The type most frequently used in pesticides is Dalmatian daisy (Chrysanthemum or Tanacetum cinerariifolium). It grows to 18 inches in USDA zones 5 through 9 with ferny foliage and small white blooms.

What flower keeps ants away?

Plant ant repelling plants in the area – Plants like henbit, geranium, garlic, aster, calendula, chrysanthemum, and mint are known to deter ants and other garden pests. Planting these plants around the affected plant will help to keep ants away.

What leaves keep ants away?

Eucalyptus. "The scent of eucalyptus is the driving factor that keeps insects out of your home," says Evie. "Add sprigs of eucalyptus around your bathroom, kitchen and living room. You can also mix a few leaves with witch hazel and water and spray any areas that ants can gather."

What is best way to get rid of ants?

Here are their top five tips.Keep Your House Clean. Ants feed on sugar, protein, and just about anything else they can find. ... Eliminate Damp Spots and Rotted Wood. ... Set Ant Baits. ... Stay Away From Sprays. ... Make the Outdoors Appealing.

How do I get rid of ant colonies in my yard naturally?

7 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ants in Your Yard and HomeDiatomaceous earth (DE)Baking soda / Baby powder.Boiling water.Borax / Boric Acid.Soapy water.Garden hose water.Artificial sweeteners.

Are there any plants that ants hate?

The Farmer's Almanac, which has been around since the 1800's, recommends the following plants to help keep ants away: catnip, pennyroyal, peppermint, sage, and spearmint.

What do ants naturally hate?

Ground black or red pepper Black or red (cayenne) pepper is a natural ant deterrent, as the insects appear to find the smell irritating. To use this method, sprinkle pepper around baseboards and behind appliances.

What smell do ants hate?

Peppermint is a natural insect repellant. You can plant mint around your home or use the essential oil of peppermint as a natural remedy for control of ants. Ants hate the smell, and your home will smell minty fresh! Plant mint around entryways and the perimeter of your home.

How do I kill an ant colony in my garden?

How to Control Ants in Your GardenGet rid of aphids and other sap-sucking pests. ... Distribute artificial sweetener near the ants. ... Sprinkle ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper around your plants. ... Place food-grade diatomaceous earth by trails and nests. ... Set a borax (or boric acid) and sugar poison trap.More items...•

Does vinegar kill ants?

Unfortunately, it doesn't work. Vinegar does not kill ants in the traditional sense: you spray it, and the ant dies. The only way this remedy is effective is if the ant drowns in vinegar (though water accomplishes the same thing).

How do I get rid of ants in my garden soil?

Ways to Get Rid of Ants in the Garden soilFrequently Water your Garden Soil. ... Use Ant Repellent Scents. ... Pour Boiling Water into Ant's Nest. ... Use an Ant Bait using Borax and Sugar. ... Apply Nematodes. ... Plant Herbs that Repel Ants. ... Apply Diatomaceous earth (DE) to the Soil.

How do you get rid of outdoor ants?

How to Get Rid of Outdoor AntsBoiling water. Rake open the nest and pour in boiling water (add liquid soap for extra killing power). ... Vinegar. Mix equal parts vinegar and water. ... Water. Soak the nest for 15 to 30 minutes with water from a hose, saturating soil. ... Boric acid. ... Chemical ant killers.

What is the best plant to keep away ants?

Rosemary. Rosemary holds its own among other repelling plants. It keeps the home warm and cozy with its fragrance and aroma. With outside exposure, rosemary keeps the soil and garden plants well-protected against ants, mosquitoes, beetles, and other pests.

How to Choose Plants That Repel Ants?

Need help picking the best plant for your garden? Are you concerned about not being an expert in gardening?

How to get rid of ants in a spray bottle?

For more enhanced results, mix small garlic cloves with boiling water and place these in a spray bottle. By doing so, the garlic solution will reach little corners and other tiny passages for ants. Another way to repel ants is by smashing a garlic clove with a mortar and pestle.

What flowers are good for ants?

Lavender. Lavender flowers are one of the most beloved flowering plants in the gardening industry. The self-seeding herb gives off a strong scent that will have ants running for their lives. Surrounding your garden with lavender will help prevent ants from harming other plants.

Why do some herbs have a lot of drawbacks?

However, not all of them are free from possible risks and drawbacks. This is because some herbs may contain ingredients that may cause skin allergies and illnesses. For example, smelling garlic may cause hives, tingling, vomiting, etc. Some flowers are known for producing pollen allergy.

How to keep ants away from my house?

First and foremost, choose a plant that satisfies your budget. While it is essential to keep ants away, managing the house requires you to balance the expenses.

How long does it take for a sage plant to grow exponentially?

You heard that right. Its strong scent will have those insects flying away in seconds. After a year or so, the plant’s growth becomes exponential.

How tall does anise grow?

Hardy only in USDA zones 6 through 10 and grown as an annual elsewhere, it reaches 2 feet in height with lacy white blooms and ferny foliage. If anise doesn’t succeed in making your ants cry uncle, you still can add its foliage to salads and its seeds to breads and desserts. Photo: istockphoto.com.

What is the best ant repellent?

Probably the most touted ant repellant plant, tansy (Tanace tum vulgare) can grow to 5 feet in USDA zones 3 through 8, with ferny foliage and bright-as-a-button petal-less yellow blooms. Its strong, spicy fragrance reportedly drives away fleas as well as ants.

What is the best herbicide for ants?

Chrysanthemums deter ants due to the toxic pyrethrins present in the flowers of some of them. The type most frequently used in pesticides is Dalmatian daisy (Chrysanthemum or Tanacetum cinerariifolium). It grows to 18 inches in USDA zones 5 through 9 with ferny foliage and small white blooms.

How big does Sage grow?

It grows to about 2½ feet in USDA zones 4 through 8 with silvery foliage and spikes of mauve flowers. If its musky scent doesn’t discourage the ants visiting your countertops, you still can dry and grind the plant’s foliage—and use your homegrown sage to impress aunts who visit during the holidays instead.

How big does a fern daisy grow?

It grows to 18 inches in USDA zones 5 through 9 with ferny foliage and small white blooms. A more colorful alternative is the painted daisy (Chrysanthemum or Tanacetum coccineum), which can reach 3 feet in USDA zones 3 through 7 with 3-inch flowers in a variety of bright hues. Photo: istockphoto.com.

Is catnip good for cats?

Catnip. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) may be, well, catnip to cats, but definitely is not a mood enhancer for ants. It grows to nearly 3 feet tall and around with musky gray-green foliage and insignificant white flowers and is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10.

Is Tansy a weed?

Its strong, spicy fragrance reportedly drives away fleas as well as ants. However, the plant is invasive enough to be considered a noxious weed in some states. And, although it has been used as a substitute for sage, it can be toxic if overconsumed.

Can ants pose harm to my garden?

This is basically the reason why we are writing this down; for you to know that ants do pose harm to your garden.

Why do ants hate cloves?

Cloves. This herb is often used for highly aromatic savory dishes because of its rich, strong scent. This is the reason why ants hate this plant though. Its scent could overpower the scent of the food they will feast on. For outdoor ant control, you can cultivate it tropical climates with balanced humidity.

Why do ants hate wormwood?

Ants hate the wormwood because it is super bitter. Aside from this, it also has a minty scent with the aroma of sage. The confusing smell and bitter taste guarantee that ants would not want to come near your soil bed if you plant these on their edges.

How to get rid of ants in my garden?

For better ant control solutions outdoors, plant mint around the soil bed or near the plants that are infested with ants. For indoor solutions, clip off one mint leaf and hang it where the ants are niching. 4.

What is the best herb to kill ants?

2. Rosemary. It is not as minty as the mint but it sure is a potent ant repellent because it gives off a strong aroma when it is crushed which will mask the scent of edible plants that ants love to feed on. It is also a go-to organic solution for other insects like mosquitoes, moths and even beetles. 3.

How to get rid of ants indoors?

For indoor solutions, clip off one mint leaf and hang it where the ants are niching.

Where to plant feverfew in garden?

Planting feverfew in the edges of the soil bed or around the garden will help you in outdoor ant control For potted plants, sprinkling a few crushed feverfews around the pot would be a good idea.

How to get rid of ants in container plants?

Getting Rid of Ants in Container Plants Naturally 1 Ants don’t like citrus. Squeeze a citrus rind in the direction of your plant so that the juice spritzes out. This should help to repel the ants. 2 To make a more heavy-duty citrus repellent, boil the rinds of half a dozen oranges in water for fifteen minutes. Blend the rinds and water in a food processor and pour the mixture around your plants. 3 Make your own soap solution with 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap in 1 pint of warm water. Spray it on and around your plant. Soaps containing peppermint oil are particularly effective. 4 Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, chili powder, coffee grounds, or dried mint tea leaves can be scattered around the base of the plant to deter ants too.

How to kill ants on a plant?

Next, take the plant outside and submerge it to just above the surface of the soil in a solution of 1 to 2 tablespoons insecticidal soap to 1 quart water. Let it sit for 20 minutes. This should kill any ants living in the soil. Brush off any ants still on the plant itself. Remove the plant from the solution and let it drain thoroughly.

How to make soap for plants?

Blend the rinds and water in a food processor and pour the mixture around your plants. Make your own soap solution with 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap in 1 pint of warm water. Spray it on and around your plant. Soaps containing peppermint oil are particularly effective.

What to use to keep ants off of plants?

Soaps containing peppermint oil are particularly effective. Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, chili powder, coffee grounds, or dried mint tea leaves can be scattered around the base of the plant to deter ants too.

Why do ants eat honeydew?

Ants love feeding on honeydew, the sweet and nutritious excrement these insects produce, so they’ll actually work to protect the pests from their natural enemies. Ants in a houseplant are a sign that your plant has other problems, and that they’re going to get worse.

Do ants like citrus?

Ants don’t like citrus. Squeeze a citrus rind in the direction of your plant so that the juice spritzes out. This should help to repel the ants.

How to locate a nest of ants?

Instead, the best option is to locate the nest and treat it directly. To locate a nest, follow the trail of ants backward from the food source.

How to get rid of ants in a nest?

Place ant bait stations along the trail you identified, following all label directions. The workers will find the bait, carry it back to the nest, and feed the queen, eliminating her and future populations. If the ant trail leads you to an outdoor, below-ground nest, drenching the nest with an approved insecticide spray (following all label directions) can be effective.

What is the best product for ant control?

Baits are the most effective product for ant control because the worker ants will carry it back to the nest to feed—and poison—the nesting ants, eliminating the colony in that nest.

How to kill ants in your home?

Use baits to kill ants that have gotten into the home. Ant baits can be purchased at most home and garden stores. Following all label directions, place the bait where ants have been seen to travel.

How to control field ants?

To control field ants: Completely saturate the ant mound with a pesticide labeled for mound application of field ants. Increase the amount of water, if necessary, so the insecticide completely penetrates the mound. Seal or repair of gaps, cracks or other ant entry points to help keep the ants out of your home.

How to get rid of grease ants?

Thief ants, or grease ants, that are found to be nesting indoors are best eliminated through baiting. This can be as simple as placing a small amount of greasy bait near the areas in which the ants have been seen. When controlling grease ants: Baits are not effective if the ant is nesting outdoors.

Where do ants nest?

The odorous house ant will nest just about anywhere: under stones, logs, mulch, or debris; in the nests of birds or mammals; and inside homes, in walls, window frames, and insulation. To control odorous house ants: Keep the ants out of your house in the first place trimming back trees and shrubbery away from the house.

How to get rid of ants in the house?

Basic, store-bought vinegar (5% solution) is all you need. Simply open and pour down the opening of the ant hill. It is best to use early in the morning, or late in the evening, as the majority of the ants will be present, and not out foraging.

Why do peonies have ants?

Ants on peony blooms are actually said to help protect the blooms from other insects.

How to keep ants from climbing on potted plants?

Much like with citrus, ants do not like the scent of mint leaves, cinnamon or cloves. Because of this, all 3 are great natural solutions to use around the base of potted plants to keep ants from climbing on board. Simply sprinkle around the top of the soil base in the containers to create a natural repellent.

How to keep ants off plants?

A simple solution of lemon juice and water can keep ants off plants. To use, mix up a 50/50 solution of lemon juice and water, and spray on affected plants. Re-apply as needed until the ants stop coming back.

What do ants do to plants?

The large underground colonies of ants can also disrupt and damage the root structures of plants, taking away access to valuable moisture and nutrients the plant needs to survive.

How to get rid of ant hills around plants?

Boiling water is a great way to get rid of ant hills around plants.

What is my garden?

This Is My Garden is a website dedicated to spreading the love and knowledge of gardening around the world. We publish two new garden articles each week. This article may contain affiliate links.