How to Get Rid of Ants in Raised Garden Beds

Ants can be a nuisance in raised garden beds They dig tunnels that disturb plant roots, harvest seeds and berries, and farm aphids which can damage plants Getting rid of ants in raised beds takes some effort, but it’s possible to deter them without harming your vegetables or the environment. Here are the top methods for keeping ants out of raised garden beds.

Use Borax and Sugar Bait

Borax and sugar is a classic homemade ant killer. The borax acts as a stomach poison, while the sugar attracts worker ants who take the bait back to feed the rest of the colony. To make borax ant bait

• Mix together roughly 4 parts sugar and 1 part borax powder Add just enough water to create a thick, syrupy consistency.

• Place small piles of the bait mixture on pieces of cardboard, jar lids, or other containers.

• Set the baits around or inside ant nests and trails in and around the raised bed. Make sure the ants can easily access it.

• Worker ants will carry the borax bait back to feed the rest of the colony. The borax will slowly kill off the nest.

• Replace baits as needed until ant activity stops. This may take 1-2 weeks for larger infestations.

Borax is a natural mineral salt that’s safe for gardens when used properly. The small amounts in ant bait won’t harm plants or soil. It’s an effective, eco-friendly treatment.

Use Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder made from crushed fossils of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. The sharp edges of DE shred the waxy outer coating on insect exoskeletons, causing ants to dry out and die from dehydration.

To use DE for ants:

• Apply a thin layer of food-grade DE along ant trails and around nests inside the raised bed. Wear a dust mask to avoid breathing in the fine powder.

• Re-apply DE after rain or watering to maintain its effectiveness. As ants walk through it, they’ll carry particles back to the nest.

• Place some DE inside an old sock and pat down anthills to penetrate deeper into nests. The ants will carry the DE inside themselves.

• Surround the posts holding up raised beds with a DE barrier to prevent ants from climbing up.

DE is non-toxic and won’t hurt plants. It provides long-term control as it remains effective when dry. DE works on other garden pests like slugs too.

Use Ant Repelling Plants

Certain plants naturally deter ants with their strong scents, flavors, or sap. Interplanting these throughout a raised bed creates a barrier the ants won’t cross. Effective ant-repelling plants include:

• Mint
• Garlic
• Onions
• Pepper plants
• Lavender
• Citronella
• Catnip
• Marigolds

Crush up leaves or stems of these plants and scatter them along ant trails or around the raised bed perimeter. Plant some alongside any raised beds with ant problems. Their roots will release compounds that drive ants away.

Repelling plants are a simple, natural way to keep ants away from raised garden beds. Plus they provide other benefits like attracting pollinators.

Remove Nearby Food Sources

Ants need food and water to survive. Removing outdoor food sources around the raised bed eliminates incentives for ants to enter it. Here are some tips:

• Clean up fallen fruit, berries, and vegetables that attract ants.Promptly harvest ripe produce.

• Prune back vegetation touching the raised bed. Ants use overhanging branches as highways.

• Eliminate standing water from leaks, poor drainage, or puddles near the bed. Ants drink readily from stagnant water sources.

• Seal or dispose of trash cans near the garden. Keep lids tightly shut.

• Clean up pet food that gets left outside. Don’t store pet food near the raised bed.

Cutting off the food supply forces ants to search elsewhere. They’ll no longer be inclined to invade the raised beds.

Use Cinnamon

Cinnamon repels ants thanks to the compound cinnamaldehyde. Ants hate the smell and avoid areas dusted with ground cinnamon powder.

To use:

• Sprinkle a line of ground cinnamon along ant trails, around the base of plants, and around the outer edges of the raised bed. Focus on areas where ants enter the bed.

• Reapply cinnamon after watering or rain since it will wash away.

• Place small containers filled with cinnamon powder along ant trails or near anthills. Ants dragging their bodies through the powder will carry it back to the colony.

Cinnamon is a natural, non-toxic option safe for gardens. Other spices like black pepper, paprika, ginger, and chilli powder also repel ants with their strong scent.

Block Entry Points

Ants need a way to get into raised garden beds. Sealing off their entry points forces ants to search elsewhere for food and shelter. Tactics include:

• Wrap the wooden posts supporting the raised bed with double-sided sticky tape. Ants will get stuck on the tape when trying to climb up.

• Coat the bottom 12 inches of the posts with petroleum jelly, glue, or other sticky substance to block ants.

• Pour a line of vinegar around the outside perimeter of the raised bed. The vinegar disrupts ant scent trails.

• Use weatherstripping, caulk gaps, or seal other holes in the raised bed walls where ants enter. This denies them access.

• Place the bed legs in containers of water to create a moat. The water barrier blocks ground-dwelling ants.

By plugging up all the spots where ants can enter, you force them to look elsewhere for food and shelter. It’s an easy, non-toxic solution.

Change Your Mulch

Certain organic mulches attract ants who feed on fungi and microbes in decaying matter. Wood chips, bark, and mushrooms are ant favorites. Switching to inorganic mulch like gravel, landscape fabric, or pebbles cuts off this food source.

Here are some good inorganic mulch options:

• Crushed eggshells – Sharp texture deters ants
• Sand
• Pea gravel or pebbles
• Landscape fabric topped with a thin layer of gravel
• Weed barrier fabric
• Plastic sheeting (not ideal as it prevents water absorption)

Stop providing a healthy habitat for ants. An inorganic mulch forces them to search for food and nesting sites elsewhere.

Use Ant Baits

Ant baits contain a pesticide mixed with a food attractant in a bait formula. Worker ants take the bait back to feed the rest of the colony. The pesticide then kills off the nest. Opt for baits labeled as “ant killers” containing active ingredients like:

• Fipronil
• Hydramethylnon
• Indoxacarb
• Abamectin

Follow label directions carefully when applying ant bait. Only use indoors or directly in nests/trails, not broadly across garden beds:

• Place small bait piles or stations near ant nests and along major trails.
• Start applying baits in the spring when ants first become active.
• Replace baits as they get consumed to ensure ants ingest a lethal dose.
• Pull back once ant activity stops to prevent overuse.

Baits provide effective control when used properly. Just take care to keep them away from edible plants and take steps to protect pollinators.

Sprinkle Chili Powder

Chili powder contains capsaicin which gives chile peppers their heat. Ants dislike the spicy compound and will avoid it. To use in gardens:

• Sprinkle chili powder, especially hot varieties, along active ant trails and around nest openings.
• Mix chili powder into water and spray over ant nests to drive them out.
• Surround plants with a band of chili powder where ants are farming aphids. The ants will no longer tend the aphids.
• Scatter chili powder along the bases of raised garden bed legs or frame to block ant highways.

Reapply after watering or rainfall since chili powder washes away. Any variety works but hotter types like cayenne or habanero pepper are most effective. The irritation from capsaicin drives ants away without harming your plants.

Maintain Healthy Soil

Healthy, thriving soil contains beneficial predatory insects that prey on ants. Ant populations often spike when soil is frequently disturbed or treated with chemical pesticides that kill key predators like ground beetles, centipedes, and spiders.

Here’s how I optimize my garden bed soil:

• Add 2-3 inches of quality compost annually to feed soil life
• Use organic slow-release fertilizers to prevent rapid growth spurts prone to pests
• Avoid over-tilling soil which damages beneficial predatory insects
• Allow crop residue and leaf litter to remain to support healthy microbial activity
• Rotate crops each season to prevent pest and disease buildup
• Test soil annually and amend as needed to balance nutrients

Take steps to foster a biodiverse environment in your raised beds. The beneficial predatory insects will help keep ants under control naturally. A healthy soil ecosystem is your best defense.

Use Ant Deterrent Sprays

Natural ant deterrent sprays create a temporary chemical barrier that prevents ants from entering an area. However, they require frequent reapplication:

Essential oil sprays – Mix 5-10 drops of essential oils from plants like peppermint, tea tree, lemongrass, or eucalyptus into 1 quart of water. Shake well and spray around raised bed.

Vinegar spray – Use undiluted white vinegar or a 50/50 vinegar water mixture. Spray onto ant trails and around raised bed perimeter.

Soap spray – Mix 2 tablespoons insecticidal soap with 1 quart water. Spray onto plants and raised bed surrounds where ants are active.

Lemon juice spray – Squeeze juice from lemons and add to water. Spray onto ant nests or around entry points.

Deterrent sprays provide temporary relief until rains wash them away. Repeat applications will be needed, especially after watering the garden. While not a standalone solution, these DIY sprays are a helpful supplemental treatment.

The key to getting rid of ants in raised garden beds is using multiple integrated pest management (IPM) techniques. This denies ants food, water, and shelter while stopping their access. A combination of sanitation, exclusion, organic treatments, and enhancing natural predators provides safe and effective control. Pay close attention and persist with multiple methods, and you can rid your raised beds of pesky ants without harming your veggies or soil.