How to Get Rid of Ants Outside
Exterminating ants outside your property can be a bit of a hassle. Ant colonies come in huge numbers, so it’s bound to be a problem if you see them marching around your property. And there’s only one reason why they’re ants are building nests on your property - there are enough food and water to support a colony.
There is only one reason why ants find your property attractive - food and water. They’re attracted to food residue, sugar and a source of clean water. Knowing what ants eat will help you identify the reason they're attracted to your home.
There are ways that you can try to get rid of the ants by yourself, but ultimately there's a big chance you'll waste your time. You can use homemade materials and natural detergents. Try these methods to treat both the inside and outside the ant nest.
How to get rid of ants naturally outside
In case of a mild infestation, some eco-friendly methods might be effective enough. Here is what you can try!
Pour boiling water into the ant nest
Caution: This method may be dangerous for you! Be cautious using this method, as it may work, but it can also cause third-degree burns. You can try using normal water to drown the ants just to be on the safe side.
Firstly, you need to identify where the nest is. Follow the insects to track it down. Depending on the ant species, the nest may be out in the open or well hidden in hedges or rocks.
Black ants usually walk in long lines and you can easily trace them to their nest. Fire ants build their nests in the open as well. Just look for a large pile of sand granules raised above the ground.
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to boil over high heat. You need to be able to carry the pot to the nest as soon as you can, while the water is still boiling. Start pouring the hot water into the nest slowly. The water will kill hundreds of ants, and it’ll collapse the nest from the inside.
If you’re dealing with fire ants, make sure to wear long sleeves and socks. The insects will get angry and may start crawling on your clothes while you're destroying their nest.
Mix soap and water
Another method to destroy the entire ant nest is to use soap and water. Mix well 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap with 2l of warm water. Identify the nest and pour the mixture slowly into it. The mixture will kill the ants and prevent them from escaping the nest.
Your best shot is to use this method late at night or early in the morning to assure that most of the ants are in the nest. The soap in the mixture can kill nearby plants, so be careful if you need to use it nearby flowers that you want to keep.
Make a repellent spray
You can make a DIY repellent spray using citric acid and vinegar. To create the mixture, you’ll need orange or lemon peels and vinegar. Mix equal parts water and vinegar add the peels and stir the ingredients in a pot.
Heat the mixture on the stove and wait for it to boil. Leave the solution overnight to cool naturally before putting it in a spray bottle. You can use the repellent straight on the nest or on places where ants usually scout for food or water.
How to get rid of ants outside with pesticides
To handle a severe ant infestation, you’ll need something stronger than boiling water or orange peel repellent. There are different types of spray pesticides and ant baits you can use to handle more serious ant problems.
How to use spray pesticides to get rid of ants
Mix non-repellent insecticides with water following the proportions from the manufacturer's instruction. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray directly into the nest. Make sure to cover every anthill you find in the area. The method will take from a couple of days to a week to start working and to get rid of the whole ant colony.
You can use the mixture to spray around your property to keep the ants from coming inside. Pay extra attention to door and window areas or on walls with cracks and holes.
Restrict the use of the insecticide to every 6 months at least.
There is only so much that over the counter pesticides can help you with. To handle a severe infestation, your best shot is to hire professional pest controllers. They use tested pesticides that will assure your ant problem is over.
How to use ant bait to get rid of ants
Using an ant bait is one of the proven methods to handle an infestation. The traps have granules that attract ants with their scent, and also contain poison that will kill the insects once digested. Place the baits on areas where ants are scouting for food. This way you’ll assure they’ll bring the poison inside the nest.
If you’re not sure what ant species are troubling you, you can buy different kinds of traps - sugar and protein-based. If you’ve previously treated your property against ants, you should place the baits in different areas, away from pesticides. The ants won’t return to the treated areas, so placing baits there is useless.
Put the baits evenly throughout the area spacing them 5-6 meters away. Wait for a couple of days for the ants to locate the traps, and to take the poison to their queen.
Check out also: How to Get Rid of Ants Inside
Prevent recurring infestations
Many outdoor or car ant infestations occur after treating the inside of the property. The insects will crawl to the safest place and will make a nest there. To completely get rid of ants, you need to kill the entire ant colony. Fortunately, there are a few methods to get rid of ants outside.
If you have an outdoor kitchen or BBQ area, make sure you thoroughly clean it after every use. Don’t leave open packages of food outside and make sure your garbage cans have lids or covers that can prevent ants from crawling in.
Expert advice
Ants don’t seem like huge trouble, but once an infestation spreads, they’re tough to handle on your own. To defeat the infestations, you’ll need to destroy the nest and the queen. You can use some of the methods from above to do so, but the results are not guaranteed.
The professional pest controllers from Fantastic Pest Control are trained to identify the type of ants and to choose a treatment method that will work the best. The ant controllers specialise in ant eradication methods that will solve the problem efficiently and quickly.