Many people who live in and around San Diego have experienced the unfortunate phenomenon of watching what seems like millions of ants invade their homes during the winter after some of our strong and heavy rains. Ants will look for shelter that’s warm and dry, and when their existing nests are either damaged or threatened by water they will go just about anywhere to survive, even into the realm of humans. Homeowners dread seeing ants crawling all over their food and their counters, and anyone who does will take almost whatever steps are necessary to remove them.
Controlling ants can begin well before any rains arrive to drive them indoors, and taking certain steps will allow for a more peaceful existence inside the home after winter storms. Below you will find a brief overview of some of these preventative steps that can help with this annoying and potentially costly problem. Anyone who needs help with the outdoor portions of their property overall should seek the help of experienced San Diego landscaping professionals as soon as possible.
Find Their Entry Points
The next time you see ants invading your home, you need to closely examine the outdoor portion of your building to see if they are entering in a centralized location. Many times ants will march in orderly columns and even though they may seem like they’re scattered all over the house, they could be coming in through one hole or opening. Clearly, the best way to be sure that this doesn’t happen again is to close off that opening.
Spray Thoroughly
If you notice ants that are gathering at any point outside the home, you should spray that area so that the ants that are visible are killed and so that you can eliminate the scent trail that has been left by any scout ants. This will help to eliminate the possibility that a scout ant will guide an entire colony into the home. If it’s too late for this step in terms of keeping them out of your home, the best next step is to place poison around the areas where the ants gather. Choose a poison that will be carried back to the nest so that all of the ants will feed on it.
Landscape Properly
Most people do not realize that the way that they have their landscape set up outside could attract ants. For instance, if there is a lot of wood on the ground or there are a lot of trees and bushes that come into direct contact with the home, more ants will likely show up to try to get inside. Removing these invitations and planning the landscaping accordingly can help minimize the ants’ interest in your building.
If you are ready to add to the outdoor portion of your property or you need help managing what is already in place, seek the help of San Diego landscaping experts who understand how to satisfy their customers. Contact Juniper Landscape Company today to schedule an initial consultation.