Having ants invade your outdoor living spaces can be incredibly annoying and difficult to manage. However, there are several effective strategies you can use to get rid of outdoor ants and keep them from coming back.
Identify the Ant Species
The first step is to identify the type of ants that are infesting your yard or patio. Different ant species can require different removal methods. Some of the most common outdoor ant pests include:
- Carpenter ants – These ants nest in wood and can cause structural damage. They are large, black ants.
- Argentine ants – Small dark brown ants that trail along the ground in long lines. They love sweet substances.
- Odorous house ants – Get their name from the rotten coconut odor they emit when crushed. They are small and brown.
- Pavement ants – Forage for food outside and come into homes through cracks. They are black or brown with pale legs.
Once you identify the species, you’ll have a better idea of how to get rid of them. Reference ant identification guides online or contact a pest control professional for help.
Remove Food Sources
Ants need food and water to survive. Take away their food sources and they’ll likely move elsewhere. Spend time eliminating anything edible around your home’s exterior:
- Discard trash and recyclables frequently. Never leave them sitting out.
- Wipe down outdoor eating areas and thoroughly clean grills after each use.
- Store all food containers securely indoors. Avoid spills and crumbs.
- Clean up pet food bowls immediately after your pet eats.
- Prune vegetation so ants can’t farm aphids on plants.
- Eliminate standing water sources. Fix leaky spigots and pipes.
This deprives ants of easy meals and forces them to search further from your home for nourishment.
Apply Ant Baits
Ant baits are one of the most effective ways to get rid of outdoor ants. The workers bring small doses of the bait back to the nest to share. Slow-acting toxins then kill the queens and colony members without harming other yard life.
Look for bait traps, stations, or gels made from borax, abamectin, or hydramethylnon. Apply them along ant trails, nests, and other areas ants frequent. Reapply after heavy rains wash baits away. It can take days or weeks for baits to fully eliminate an ant colony.
Use Natural Repellents
For a non-toxic way to send ants packing, use natural ant deterrents around your yard:
- Sprinkling cinnamon, coffee grounds, or crushed mint leaves in problem areas often repels ants.
- Spraying equal parts vinegar and water over trails and other ant entry points disrupts scent paths.
- Lemon juice, citrus peels, and essential oils like peppermint, lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus also repel ants when applied to areas where ants enter.
- Drawing a line of chalk, lime, or talcum powder will block access, since ants don’t like crossing over these fine particles.
Reapply natural repellents after heavy rains for ongoing protection.
Seal Entry Points
Prevent ants from entering your home in the first place by sealing as many access points as possible:
- Seal cracks and crevices in your home’s exterior using caulk. Pay special attention around windows, doors, utility pipes, vents etc.
- Replace weather stripping and repair loose mortar or grout around basement foundation walls if needed.
- Keep tree branches and bushes trimmed back from touching the house exterior.
- Store firewood away from the foundation.
- Make sure window and door screens are in good repair.
- Fill gaps around pipe penetrations with steel wool, copper mesh, or aerosol foam.
- Use outlet sealant gaskets behind exterior electrical outlets.
- Always keep doors closed and repair any screens with tears or holes.
- Ensure crawl space vents are tightly sealed but not blocked.
By denying entry, ants will struggle to find food and shelter on your property. Proper sealing and caulking will also help keep other insects out of your living space.
Use Ant Killer Sprays
For fast knockdown of ant trails and nests, specially formulated ant killer sprays could help. Insecticide sprays containing chemicals like pyrethrins, pyrethroids, fipronil or boric acid quickly kill ants on contact outdoors.
Use caution when applying liquid sprays and strictly follow label directions. Avoid excessive use and never spray indoors, around pets, near edible plants, or directly into flower beds. Reapply as needed, especially after heavy rains.
Consult a Pest Control Expert
For severe ant infestations, bringing in a professional pest control company is advisable. They have commercial grade insecticides, baits, and treatment methods not available to homeowners. Technicians can pinpoint nest locations, identify species, and strategically apply targeted chemicals outdoors.
Consider pest control help for invasive or difficult to control species like carpenter ants, crazy ants, or Argentine ants. Since ants often nest far away from where you see them trailing, professionals using special detection equipment have the best chance of eradicating them.
Tips for Prevention
- Regularly inspect your property and act quickly at the first sign of ants before they multiply.
- Store indoor and outdoor garbage in sealed containers away from the house.
- Eliminate moisture leaks or standing water sources ants require.
- Trim back vegetation touching exterior walls.
- Keep your home’s perimeter free of debris piles, leaf litter, stones, or logs ants could hide under.
- Ask pest control companies about applying preventative outdoor treatments.
With persistence and paying attention to entry points, food sources, and nesting habitats, you can effectively get rid of outdoor ants and keep them away using these strategies. Consistent diligence is key to keeping your outdoor living space ant-free.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Rid of Outdoor Ants
How do you get rid of ants outside permanently?
To get rid of outdoor ants for good, you need to use a combination of tactics. Apply ant baits or traps near nests, eliminate food sources, seal entry points, use natural repellents, and have patience. Completely removing ants outdoors often takes persistence over weeks or months.
What smell keeps ants away outside?
Strong smells like peppermint, cinnamon, citrus, and vinegar can repel ants when applied around your home’s exterior. Place solid smells like coffee grounds, spices, citrus peels near ant trails and entry points. Use diluted vinegar or essential oils in a spray bottle on problem areas.
What home remedy kills ants instantly?
Boiling water, pure vinegar, or diluted bleach can instantly kill ants and destroy nests. However, these remedies only offer temporary control outdoors. For more permanent ant elimination, use slower-acting baits and insecticides designed to fully eradicate colonies.
Will ants go away on their own?
In most cases ants will not go away on their own if they have found food sources and nesting sites on your property. Maintaining cleanliness and removing food will encourage ants to look elsewhere but does not guarantee removal. Using targeted baits, sprays, and traps provide more reliable and longer-lasting control.
Do ants hate lemon?
Yes, lemons contain citric acid and potent fragrances that naturally deter ants. Squeeze lemon juice directly onto trails, nests, or entry points. Cut lemon peels into small pieces and leave near problem areas. You can also mix lemon juice with water in a spray bottle and apply to repel invading ants. Reapply after it rains.
Conclusion
Getting rid of outdoor ants takes some work, but is definitely possible if you systematically deprive them of food, shelter, and access into your living space. Seal up entryways, clean up food spills, apply natural repellents, deploy targeted baits and traps, and use exterior sprays as needed. With a multi-pronged approach, you can kick ants out of your yard and keep them from marching back in. Remain vigilant in identifying and eliminating re-infestation risks. Your efforts will pay off with an ant-free outdoor living space.