Home & Garden Personal Safety & Security

Peppermint Oil for Ants in the Garden

    Peppermint and Insects

    • Many insects will go out of their way to avoid peppermint plants and anything that smells like peppermint, including the essential oil contained in the leaves. Ants are attracted to sweet-smelling things, but the strong scent of peppermint makes them recoil. The oil is not toxic to the ants, but it can be used to divert ant trails and to clean up and hide the scent of an ant trail.

    Methods for Use

    • Brew up a pot of peppermint tea. Once its cooled, place it in a spray bottle and spray the area where you want to repel ants. Or, add a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with water, and use that mixture to spray the area. A longer lasting solution is to rub concentrated peppermint oil into areas where ants are hiding, such as cracks in a cement path around your garden. The best solution might be to forgo the oil entirely and plant peppermint plants around the perimeter of your garden.

    Issues and Problems

    • The use of peppermint oil temporarily repels ants. Once the scent fades or is absorbed into the ground, the ants will return. In addition, they might try to go around the area that has been sprinkled with the oil. Because peppermint oil is not toxic, some home gardeners add cayenne pepper to the solution in order to kill ants on contact.

    Other Considerations

    • Think carefully whether you want to use peppermint to repel ants in your garden. Although ants are a pest in the house, they are actually beneficial in gardens. They loosen the soil and decompose organic matter. Some ants even feed on more harmful insect pests, such as termites.

SHARE
RELATED POSTS on "Home & Garden"
Led Emergency Lights - What All Emergency Vehicles Need
Led Emergency Lights - What All Emergency Vehicles Need
Homemade Grub Control
Homemade Grub Control
Choosing a Burglar Alarm Systems
Choosing a Burglar Alarm Systems
How to Organize a Raised Outdoor Storage
How to Organize a Raised Outdoor Storage
A Low Cost Monitored Home Security System Can Save Your Life
A Low Cost Monitored Home Security System Can Save Your Life
Inexpensive Do It Yourself Home Security Tips
Inexpensive Do It Yourself Home Security Tips
How Smart Homes Make Life Easier
How Smart Homes Make Life Easier
Why Many People Choose Wireless Security Cameras
Why Many People Choose Wireless Security Cameras
GE - The Home Security System You Can Trust
GE - The Home Security System You Can Trust
The Most Energy-Efficient Form of Locomotion
The Most Energy-Efficient Form of Locomotion
Buying Columbus Barbecue Supplies for the House
Buying Columbus Barbecue Supplies for the House
The 5 Things Which Equal Strong Home Security in Nashville
The 5 Things Which Equal Strong Home Security in Nashville
Owning A Handgun Safe Shows How Responsible You Are
Owning A Handgun Safe Shows How Responsible You Are
Locksmith San Leandro
Locksmith San Leandro
How to Kill Weeds in a Pasture But Not the Grass
How to Kill Weeds in a Pasture But Not the Grass
Parts of a Block and Tackle
Parts of a Block and Tackle
How to Get Little Bugs Out of a Swimming Pool
How to Get Little Bugs Out of a Swimming Pool
Home Security- Driveway Alarm
Home Security- Driveway Alarm
The Best Motion Light SD Cameras
The Best Motion Light SD Cameras
How to Get Rid of Wood Ants
How to Get Rid of Wood Ants

Leave Your Reply

*