There are many ways ants can become a problem around your Opelika, Alabama home. We have several common ant pests. Some are mostly a nuisance, like Argentine ants. These little ants only present a mild threat when they get into trash receptacles and then find their way into your kitchen or pantry. Some ant pests are a stinging hazard. Fire ants fall into this category.

Some ants can be a threat to your property. If black carpenter ants get into your home, they can do quite a bit of damage, over time. And of course, we have crazy ants, which can enter your yard by the millions. Each of these ant pests require different control measures. What works for one type of ant is not likely to work for another. But there are some general tricks that can help you reduce ants around your home and keep them from getting into your home.

1. Rake Leaves

Some ants eat bugs, and bugs live underneath leaf litter. When you rake leaves up, it reduces bug activity around your home. This reduction in bug activity will have an impact on ant populations.

2. Reduce Moisture

Most ants are drawn to moist habitats. In a moist area, ants can find water to drink, food sources to eat, and moisture to keep them cool. Since landscaping requires watering, ants are often found in landscaping. This isn't necessarily bad. It depends on the type of ants you have in your landscaping and how many you have. But it is best to apply the following tips to reduce surface moisture:

Make sure your gutters are working to channel water away from your exterior.
Trim bushes, shrubs, and vegetation to allow for better airflow.
Remove unnecessary vegetation to prevent the capture of moisture.
Water your plants in the early morning.
Fix any leaking spigots, hoses, or plumbing.

3. Reduce Wood Sources

Wood that sits on the ground, or under the ground, can be the perfect habitat for carpenter ants. It can also provide a habitat for bugs. This will lure other ant species into your yard. It is best to remove wood sources.

Store campfire wood away from your home.
Remove stumps and logs.
Never bury scrap wood in your yard.
Consider replacing wooden flower borders with stone or some other material.
Repair rotting wood on your deck, fence, home, and other structures on your property.

4. Remove Attractive Smells

Many ants are attracted by the scent of food rotting. If you have rotting organic juices on the ground, on your garage floor, on your trash receptacles, or some other surfaces, it can lure ants in close to your home. Keep organic spills cleaned up and try to maintain clean trash receptacles. This can have a big impact on ant activity.

5. Seal Entry Points

When ants explore your exterior, and they'll do this no matter what you do to prevent them, it is important that the ants don't find easy entry points. There are many common ways ants get into homes.

Your windows can let ants into your home. Damaged screens and frames, broken window panes, and gaps around frames can all be a source of entry.
Rotted sole plates (also called sills) can give access to ants.
Gaps around pipes and other foundation wall penetrations.
Your exterior doors can have several entry points. Gaps in your weatherstripping, damaged screens on sliding glass doors, rotted wood frames, or damage caused by wood-destroying pests, missing door sweeps, and gaps around the outside of your door frame are all potential entry points.

Ant Control

If you ever need assistance with ant control in Opelika, remember that Prewett Pest Control is available to help you get control of ants and other pests. Reach out to us anytime. We're here to help.