The gardener and social media star said this simple method could help eliminate ants within a few days during hot weather
A gardener has revealed a straightforward method for eliminating ants from your garden this summer. Ants typically become far more visible during the warmer months as higher temperatures increase their activity levels.
Spring and summer mark their primary foraging and breeding periods, while gardens offer abundant food sources including nectar, seeds, insects and the sweet honeydew secreted by aphids.
Featuring as a guest on the RHS Roots YouTube channel with presenter Jo Whiley, gardener Jonny Hincks provided viewers with a tour of his impressive Warwickshire garden. After complimenting his pristine lawn, Jo enquired about the “worst thing” that could affect it.
“I can’t imagine you get mould here,” she remarked while surveying the garden. “I don’t have mould, I get a few ants,” Jonny responded, leading Jo to confess: “I have a big issue with ant hills.”
Outlining his approach to addressing the issue, Jonny detailed: “So, what I do is, I have a terracotta pot and I turn it upside down and I put it over the actual mound itself.
“Now, the heat and the lack of sunlight causes the ants to build the nest higher.”
He went on: “Leave it for a few days and the heat, especially with this heat we’ve got at the minute, the heat draws the nest up.
“Take the terracotta pot off and then you can literally just shovel up the ants nest and move it somewhere else.”
The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is the most frequently encountered ant species across the UK. These ants usually establish their nests under paving slabs, in soil, flower pots, compost heaps and along lawn edges.
They pose no threat to humans and do not sting. Another widespread species is the yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus). It constructs small mounds of earth in lawns and, due to its yellow appearance, is occasionally confused with a red ant.
Like the black garden ant, it presents no danger whatsoever, according to Gardeners’ World.
The gardening website suggests there are various methods to deter ants from establishing nests in plant pots if they’re impacting your plants, beginning with consistent watering.
It explains: “Move on ants, by watering soil and pots regularly. Avoid completely flooding the pot, as this can kill the ants.
“But regular watering will let them know that the plant pot isn’t the best place to make a nest – as they do best in dry environments – so they will move their eggs elsewhere.”
Gardeners’ World also advocates companion planting, stating: “Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, is a strongly scented herb that can deter aphids, reducing food sources for ants.
“Lavender plants can be a great option too, as the scent repels ants.”
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