I keep my garden nourished with 30p food everyone chucks in the bin – simple trick keep ants away
THE warm weather is well and truly here but unfortunately that means so are the ants.
But don’t worry because a simple trick can banish the pests and nourish your garden at the same time.
According to Martha Stewart, your kitchen bin could hold the answer to your ant problem.
The home expert recommended holding on to your orange peels after you enjoy the healthy snack.
Orange peels can act as a compost material, enriching your soil with nutrients.
These include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which boost plant root development.
“Be sure to only use organic orange peels in your garden as you do not want chemicals to steep into your garden soil,” said Adam Weiss, gardener and founder of Pike Lane Gardens.
And since you can pick up an orange for just 30p from Sainsbury’s, this hack won’t break the bank and you’ll get a snack out of it too.
Begin by drying the peels out, then grind or finely chop them up before adding to your compost pile or spread it directly around the base of your plants before watering.
Since orange peels take a while to decompose chopping them up into smaller pieces is an essential step.
And there’s an additional benefit to adding this ingredient to your flowerbeds.
Orange peels can help to deter common pests like aphids from your garden.
“Ants dislike the smell, and oranges contain d-limonene, which is a natural insect repellent,” explained Steve Corcoran, CEO, Lawn Love.
The best method for using orange peels as a natural deterrent is to first dry the peels completely.
Then grind them up into a fine powder and sprinkle around your garden.
Since it’s a loose powder, you may have to repeat this process several times in case it blows away.
You can also use your orange peels to create a DIY ant repellant spray.
Keep pests out all summer
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mossies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
“Add your fresh orange peel to a spray bottle with hot water and a touch of dish soap,” explained Adam.
Shake the mixture and spray it periodically on the lower leaves and stems of your garden plants.
“The dish soap allows the solution to stick to the leaves, and the orange smell deters the aphids,” he said.
Make sure to reapply this mixture after it rains.
A £3 buy from B&M can help to keep spiders and flies out of your home.
And the nightmare pest that may be ruining your garden without you realising.