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If you spray your plants with this one natural item ants won't touch themThe pests are more likely to swarm your garden during summer, but not if you take this simple precautionWhat's

OnNicola Roy Spare Time writer 08:53, 31 May 2025Having ants in your garden means they're likely to make their way into your home(Image: Getty) Ants and flying ants can be a right nuisance

during the summer.

They don't do too much damage to your plants, but they are annoying to deal with. And if they're in your garden, they're likely to enter your house too.

But, there's a cheap and natural deterrent. The gardening experts at Yell have put together their top tips for dealing with common garden pests.

And if ants are causing problems in your garden or finding their way into your home, some of the best natural deterrents involve strong citrus scents. Lemon is a particularly effective

method - all you need to do is mix lemon juice with water and spray it around ant trails to keep them away.

Ants can be a real problem if they get into your home(Image: Getty)Article continues below This citrus fruit can also be used around the home to stop ants from entering. According to the

experts at Safeguard Pest Control, you can squirt lemon juice directly into know entry points and place shavings of lemon rind along the ant's pathways.

You can use real lemon juice for this, or a bottle of lemon juice from the supermarket - but if you're opting for this, make sure there's no added sugar, or you'll simply attract more ants

and defeat the whole purpose. And, it's not just lemon juice that can help to keep ants at bay.

Another scent they dislike is peppermint oil, which can be used in a similar way by mixing a few drops with water and spraying affected areas. You can also keep this for adding a fresh smell

around your home.

Article continues below Other common household staples like vinegar, sugar, and baking soda can also be useful when tackling ants in the garden. If you mix equal parts of vinegar and water,

you get a natural repellent that can be used on plants and flowers.