Repel ants naturally.
Pests come in all shapes and sizes. There are many chemical options available for warding off pests, but there are also many chemical-free alternatives that are safe for children and pets and require no personal safety equipment while being used. Whether you choose chemicals or natural pest repellents there are many options available to you. Does this Spark an idea?
Garden Pests -- Rabbits, Deer and More
Install a solar or electric fence to keep many four legged garden pests out of the garden. Set fiberglass fence posts 1 foot outside the perimeter of the garden. Set the fence posts 3 yards apart. String a single electric wire on the fence posts, 6 inches off the ground. Lug in fence charger. This height will zap rabbits on the nose or the head and will repulse them. Deer do not look down or up to ascertain danger or causes for alarm. When they are zapped in the lower leg they can't visualize what zapped them and therefore they will turn away from the fence.
Insects -- Ants and Weevils
Sprinkle cayenne pepper around the perimeter of the area where the ant problem is occurring. The ant hill must be located outside the ring of cayenne pepper. Ants will not cross substances such as cayenne pepper because ants breathe through their feet and inhaling cayenne pepper isn't anymore fun for ants than it is for humans.
Place bay leaves in household containers of grains, such as flour or dried cereals. The scent of the bay leaf is repulsive to weevils and will keep them out of your pantry. The grain, even flour, will not absorb a noticeable amount of scent from the bay leaf.
Many commercial ant baits contain Abamectin, a chemical that kills ants after consumption. The ant eats the bait and carries the bait back to the ant hill or nest and that bait continues to kill other ants. Place the bait in corners and along ant trails.
Lawn Pests -- Moles
Plant allium, more commonly known as onion, to repel moles. Since moles burrow underground their first contact with allium is the onion bulb, which is pungent to the mole. Many of us don't look forward to having a spindly onion stalk growing in our yard or flower beds, however there are many varieties of the ornamental onion available that add a colorful flair to edging or beds.
Insects-Flies
A great dual purpose deterrent to flies is planting basil. This can be container planted outdoors in an area bothered by flies, such as a deck or patio, or can be container planted indoors and placed by a window or other fly-friendly entrance such as a patio door. The scent from the natural oils found in basil repels flies. Basil is often considered an essential herb, so feel free to snip some to cook with, it will encourage growth which will encourage the flow of natural oils in the plant.
Another option is to sprinkle pine oil essence in potpourri bowls, as pine oil is repulsive to flies.
Sprays
Many sprays kill ants and other insects on contact and the residual spray will continue to kill for weeks. Spray the insects directly and spray ant trails and entry points.
Tags: cayenne pepper, fence posts, container planted, natural oils, options available