It turns out one of my favorite ways to brighten up my home in the spring and summer is encouraging an army of little black ants into my home! And once they find their way inside, ants are notoriously hard to get rid of.
We’ve already shared the ‘kitchen sink rule’ and how citrus peels can deter ants, but now I’m going to share a habit that I’ll be breaking to stop unwelcome ants from making themselves cosy.
Be careful when cutting fresh flowers
This year I planted wildflower seeds in an area of my garden where I leave my lawn uncut for No Mow May. Apart from encouraging bees and butterflies into my yard to help pollination, I enjoy cutting the wildflowers and bringing them inside.
It’s become an early-morning habit that I go out into my backyard with my pruning shears, and come back with a bouquet of brightly-colored cornflowers. What’s more, buying a packet of seeds is a marvelous way to enjoy fresh flowers at home, without paying florist prices.
However, I recently noticed that my pretty stems were covered in tiny black ants, and I’d been encouraging them inside.
There's an easy solution to dispel the ants
But instead of fretting about unknowingly bringing ants into my home, I found a simple solution that keeps them firmly rooted outside.
Once I cut the stems, I gently turn each one upside down and give it a gentle shake. This removes the ants without dislodging any petals from the blooms. And instead of bringing ants inside on my cut flowers, they remain in my yard.
Apart from following this easy ant-removing hack on my cornflowers, I also do the same with my roses, as these are another bloom that I grow as cutting flowers.
Don't forget about the after care
Then, I also keep an eye on my cut flowers once I’ve arranged them in a vase. If the water becomes stagnant or the flowers start to decay, it’s an invitation for pests to come to play. And without you realizing it, you’ve encouraged ants in your home.
So, while I still continue to cut fresh flowers from my yard, I take extra care to check the flower stems and underneath the blooms for ants, before I bring them inside, and once they are displayed, I make sure the water isn’t left to fester and the blooms remain fresh.
