Mulch is one of the most preferred spots for ants to hide, so it is not uncommon to see massive amounts of ants in Mulch. The environment and the temperature are ideal for the ants to stay, and you will often find many more types of pests in these conditions. To avoid this issue, you need to find and eliminate the ant colony before it infests your mulch.
Recently many gardeners have been experiencing issues with how to get rid of ants in mulch. If you’re in the same boat, then follow a few methods mentioned below to get rid of the ants.
How to Get Rid Of Ants In Mulch?
- Use Borax Bait
Using borax bait is one of the easiest methods that you can use to get around the ant problem. All you need to do is develop a sweet bait and then add equal proportions of borax and place it close to the mulch. The honey and the sugar content of this bait will attract ants towards the bait, and the borax will help eliminate the problem. This method is quite easy to follow, and you won’t have to go through extended DIY projects to get the job done.
It might take one or two days for the ants to die out completely. So, be patient and wait for the problem to fix itself. Most gardeners like to develop their unique versions of the bait in the form of granules and then spread that around the mulch. When these granules are carried to the colony, and the consumption begins, borax kills the overall population within a few days.
If you’re not sure about how to develop a borax bait, try asking other gardeners about possible remedies to take care of ants in the mulch. That way, you can get your hands on practical solutions that can be implemented immediately.
- Use Citrus Oil
Most of the garners are aware of the fact that using citrus oils can eliminate the ant problem. So, using a mixture of citrus oils with dish soap might help you remove the ants from your mulch. Luckily, this method is quite inexpensive, and you won’t have to worry about extra budget or spending money on gardening products.
The only thing that you need to be careful about is using toxic dish soap. Make sure to go through the ingredients of the dish soap and avoid its use if the dish soap is toxic. Using toxic dish soap can have a negative impact on your garden, and you will notice stunted growth of your plants after a while.
Using the borax bait is a far better and easier option. So, if you have the necessary ingredients, try making a granular bait yourself, and it will take care of all the ants in the mulch. The granular bait won’t affect the growth of your plants in any way, and it is completely safe for use. You can even make unique variants to the bait to increase its effectiveness.
- Use Pesticide Spray
Now, most people like to avoid the use of chemical methods to get rid of ants from the mulch. But if the condition is too severe and you want to get rid of ants instantly, then using a pesticide spray is your best bet. You can buy the spray from any of your nearest gardening stores. If you don’t know which brand to go for, explain the situation to the professionals working at the store, and they will direct you towards the right solution.
This spray will be most effective when you can trace back the ants to their colony. Directly spraying the colony will yield instant results, and you won’t have to worry about this problem again. You also have the option of using commercial paint and then spreading it around the mulch.
The commercial bait is made in a similar formulation as the borax bait mentioned above. So, you won’t have to go through any of the trouble to develop granules yourself for the ants to feed on. This method is quite effective, but you might have to spend a little budget if you have an enormous pile of mulch. All in all, using borax bait is always the go-to for gardeners worldwide.