
Making the Ants Scurry
Ants are tiny, but they can be a massive source of frustration when they get into food and otherwise run around your property in large numbers. Despite their small size, some ants can cause significant damage to the wooden structure of your patio, in much the same way as termites. Fortunately, there are ways to keep ants away from a building and make existing ants go elsewhere. Some of these methods include:- Finding where the ants are coming from, which is usually from a mound of dirt on the ground known as an ant hill. Once you find their nest, you can eliminate the ants at the source.
- Knowing what kinds of ants are on your lawn, in order to execute the best plan to deal with them. For example, fire ants can cause nasty bites and are best left to professionals wearing the proper safety equipment to deal with.
- Keep sources of food and water off your patio when not in use. This includes cleaning up any crumbs left behind after enjoying a meal outside, ensuring that trash does not pile up on the porch, and wiping down the barbeque grill after cooking.
Keeping Mice Away
There are many similarities between keeping mice and ants away from your patio. One of these is making sure that there are no food sources left in the open that mice can easily access. However, rodent removal is a bit different from ant removal due to differences in size and behaviour. If you notice what you believe to be rodent droppings or urine, take some steps to make your yard and patio less inviting to these creatures. For example, you can:- Pick up tree branches and rake leaves off your lawn, since these are attractive hiding spots for mice and rats
- Have a professional rodent pest control service set up humane traps throughout your yard and on your patio
- Spray natural scents that deter mice, such as peppermint, vinegar, cloves, and cinnamon, many of which you may already have around your home or place of business