Content
- Ants in the Sandbox - What can you do about it?
- Combat ants in the sandbox effectively
- Home remedies are usually ineffective
- Resettle ant nest
- Break roads
- In an emergency: replace the sand completely
- Tips
Ants are not allowed in the sandbox
Ants in the Sandbox - What can you do about it?
Ants are harmless gardeners who even do useful tasks. In the sandbox, they are less valued, because they spray a corrosive liquid, which is very unpleasant especially for small children. What can you do if ants have spread in the sandbox?
Combat ants in the sandbox effectively
To fight ants in the sandbox, there are countless tips. Most of them are ineffective or keep the creepy-crawlies for a short time only. To renounce the use of chemical means, of course, by itself. Finally, the little ones should be able to play there unloaded later.
Possible options are:
Single ants in the sandbox can not be prevented in any case. Unfortunately, these are often so-called scouts who are looking for new locations for their nests.
Ant baits contain attractants that are toxic to the ants. When taken by the animals and carried into the nest, all other inhabitants poison themselves and die. For children, this measure is safe.
Home remedies are usually ineffective
The list of home remedies is long. It ranges from baking soda to vinegar essence to boiling water. Most home remedies are ineffective or they are distressing to the animals. This applies to baking soda and the pouring of the nest with boiling water.
One approach may be to make the ants so uncomfortable that they move by themselves. For example, you can pour cold water over the nest for several days. Too much wetness does not like ants.
Resettle ant nest
The best and at the same time most gentle measure for humans and animals is the resettlement of the nest. It takes a few days, but nobody gets hurt.
Find a larger flower pot, fill it with wood wool and put it over the nest in the sandbox. After a few days, the ants nest in the wood wool, because the conditions here are more pleasant for them than the sand.
Once most of the ants are in the woodwool, use a spade to lift the pot out of the sand and move it to a more distant location. There, you simply pour out the nest.
Break roads
Prevention is a good idea to prevent ants from settling in the sandbox in advance. Pull thicker chalk marks around the box. Chalk contains lime that ants do not appreciate. The stroke must be renewed every few days.
In an emergency: replace the sand completely
In case of heavy infestation, you may need to completely replace the sand in the sandbox.
Tips
If you build a sandbox yourself, you should insert a water-permeable weed fleece before filling the sand. Not only does it protect against weeds, it also keeps ants from breaking into the sandbox.