Once ants have discovered a food source in your home, whether leftovers or spills, they’ll continue coming back for more. This can be highly frustrating, especially if you have pets or children who may accidentally eat toxic chemicals used to control the ants.
So if you’re looking for a natural and organic way to repel ants and keep them away from your home, consider the lavender plant.
Lavender is a natural insect repellent used for centuries to kill ants, mosquitoes, flies, moths, and other pests. The plant’s strong scent and oil repel the insects and, when used correctly, can be very effective.
Do Ants Like Lavender?
Lavender plants release a natural fragrance that ants and other pests find repulsive. The pungent smell also helps mask the scent trail followed by ants to a food source, making it harder for ants to find their way into your home.
Another way lavender works as an ant repellent is from its constituent chemical compound, linalool. This compound is found in many other plants and flowers, but it’s particularly abundant in lavender.
Studies have shown that linalool disrupts the pheromone scent trails that ants use to communicate.
How to Repel Ants with Lavender
There are several ways to repel ants using lavender. You can plant lavender around the perimeter of your home, use lavender oil, or use dry lavender.
#1. Planting lavender around your home
If you have a garden, consider planting lavender around the perimeter of your home. This will help repel ants and also provide a beautiful fragrant border.
#2. Using lavender oil
You can purchase lavender oil at most drug stores. Simply add a few drops to a cotton ball and place it where you’ve seen ants. You can also mix one part lavender oil with ten parts olive oil and spray it around the perimeter of your home.
#3. Using dry lavender
If you have dried lavender, you can sprinkle it in areas that ants frequent, like corners in the kitchen, cupboards, or doors and windows. You can also make a sachet by placing dry lavender in a small pouch and keeping it where you’ve seen ants.
Benefits of Using Lavender to Repel Ants
In addition to being a natural and effective ant repellent, lavender is an environmentally friendly option. It doesn’t cause damage to your home or pose health risks to your family or pets as chemicals do.
Another benefit of using lavender in your home is that it has a calming effect and can help reduce stress levels. The plant is also easy to care for and maintain, so you won’t have to worry about spending a lot of time keeping it alive.
Cons of Using Lavender for Repulsion
A potential downside of using lavender to repel ants is that the plant’s fragrance may not be strong enough to deter all pests. So if you’re dealing with a heavy infestation, you may want to consider using other ant control methods in addition to lavender.
Other Ways to Keep Ants Away Without Using Harsh Chemicals or Pesticides
There are different natural and organic ways to keep ants away from your home. Here are just a few ideas:
-Keep your home clean and free of crumbs or spills. Ants are attracted to food, so the less there is for them to eat, the less likely they will come inside.
-Use a vinegar and water solution to clean areas where ants have been seen. Vinegar is a natural ant repellent, and it works by removing any scent trails ants may have left behind.
-Use lemon juice or citrus oil as a natural ant repellent. Lemons and citrus fruits are known to contain compounds that ants find repulsive.
-Make homemade ant repellent using essential oils. Peppermint, eucalyptus, dish soap and tea tree oil are all effective at repelling ants. Mix a few drops of each oil with water and spray it around the perimeter of your home.
-Consider Borax to kill ants. Borax is a natural substance that is poisonous to ants. To use it, mix equal parts of Borax and sugar and sprinkle the mixture around the perimeter of your home or in areas where ants have been spotted. The sugar will attract the ants, and the Borax will kill them.
-Plant ant-repellent herbs in your garden. Herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme, and mint are known to repel ants. You can also place potted plants around your home for extra protection.
Related Article: Does Vinegar Repel Ants?