As beneficial insects, ants offer many advantages for your garden. If a whole nest of ants settles in the garden, that can also be annoying. This is how you can relocate ants and what you need to keep in mind.
How can I relocate ants in the garden?
To relocate ants in the garden, you need a flower pot with wood shavings or straw. Place the pot over the nest, wait a few days for the ants to move and move the pot to a new location.
Why should you relocate ants?
Ants canundermine plants and thus cause problems. When an anthill settles in the root area, the soil becomes loose. On the one hand, this leads to even larger plants or trees losing their stability. In addition, the roots no longer reach into the ground as well as would be necessary for supply. Then the plant receives less nutrients and moisture. If you don't want to destroy the ants or otherwise get rid of them, relocation can be a good option.
How can I relocate ants?
You need a suitableFlower potandWood woolorStraw The pot provides the ants with one particularly good protection. After a few days, the animals move in with their eggs and the queen. You can relocate a smaller nest using the following steps:
- Fill the pot loosely with wood wool or straw.
- Put over the nest with the opening pointing downwards.
- Weigh down with a stone.
- Ants move into the pot within just under a week.
- Push the spade under the pot.
- Put the ant colony in the pot in a new location.
When can ants be relocated?
The best time to relocate ants is fromMarch to July. If you choose this time of year, the animals will be active and still move around enough to move into the pot. During the cold winter time, however, the ants are in their natural state of cold. But they won't cause you any major problems.
What are the advantages of relocating ants?
Relocation provides you with an extremelygentle method of ant control. You do not destroy the useful animals here, as is the case when using ant bait or baking soda. You can also move the ant colony to a new location that is suitable and where they can continue to be useful.
Can I relocate ants?
This depends on thetypeof antsHowever, you can relocate the normal ants without any problem. Some other species, such as the wood ant, are subject to special protection. But you won't be able to fit the large piles of these animals under a small flower pot anyway.
Tip
Getting ants to move with plants
With certain plants you can also encourage the ants to move voluntarily. For example, if you place lavender, thyme, mint or marjoram near the ant nest, a smell that is unpleasant for ants will spread. Many ants will then relocate voluntarily. Fragrances such as tea tree oil, lemon peel or clove have a similar effect.