When the weather is nice, you’ll probably be enticed to spend the day in your garden with a glass of iced tea. But seeing ants crawling on your feet or legs is anything but pleasant. Most times they will bite you as a defensive mechanism and that can really hurt.
If you have a never-ending ant problem, whether inside or outside your home, you can contact All Good pest control to help get rid of them once and for all. But if you’re looking for ways to repel ants, you can start with ant-repellent plants. These plants have natural scents and oils that are effective in driving away ants. However, for major infestations, you will most definitely need a more serious remedy.
That said, here’s our list of plants you can place inside your home, in your yard or garden.
1. Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is scientifically called Mentha pulegium. It acts by deterring insects from entering the house. Its oils repel ants or grown near the point where they enter the house. But you need to be careful about this one as it’s toxic when eaten. If you have young kids and pets in the house, you should place it where they can’t be reached.
2. Mint
Ants are repelled by spearmint, peppermint and any plant from the mint family. Mint clogs up their sense of smell so they are unable to communicate with each other. Choose mint plant that gives off the strongest smell.
3. Rosemary
Ants use their sense of smell to communicate with other ants so plants that disrupt their communications are useful in driving them away. Rosemary is a good option because while it may not be as overpowering as the others on this list, it works just as good. Let me just warn you though that growing rosemary indoors can be a bit of a challenge. They are much easier to grow outdoors.
4. Lavender
Lavender has a strong scent that can fill your entire home. People use it in their candles and oil diffusers because it can relax the mind and help us sleep. However, ants are not particularly fond of lavender, along with other bugs like mosquitoes and flies. If you plan on growing lavender, make sure it gets a lot of sunlight and sufficient air flow.
5. Sage
Sage is a herb that elevates various dishes but it does a lot more than that. You can place sage on your windows, porch or kitchen to keep those little critters at bay. You can use the plant as repellent or get a handful of sage and ground into powder, then sprinkle in areas where ants frequent.
6. Garlic
When it comes to plants for bug control, garlic is always on the list. There’s no need to actually plant garlic, you can just buy a few bulbs, ground them and sprinkle them around your house. The smell might bother you for a while but it’ll definitely be worth it once your home is clear of those pesky critters.
7. Marigold
Marigolds have anti-repellent oils as to get rid of ants in your home. But it also helps make your home brighter and prettier too!
Ants are a not only a nuisance, but can also damage your home. Some, like the fire ants, can be harmful to little kids and pets. Having plants that repel ants will definitely come in handy.