Keeping Ants Out Of Your Hartford Home

The two most common ant pests in Hartford are pavement ants and carpenter ants. One is a nuisance; the other is a wood-destroying pest. You probably know which is which. But, what you may not know is how to keep these ants out of your home. Spring is the best time to prepare your home against ants. So we've put together this quick Spring Ant Prevention Guide to help you stop ant infestations before they begin.

Standing Water

Ants are drawn to water. If you have conditions that allow water to collect near your foundation walls, pavement ants will crawl on your foundation in search of a crack to get inside, and carpenter ants will explore your walls for decaying wood to tunnel into.

• Remove objects that act as containers for rainwater.
• Clean your gutters of any obstructions.
• Repair gutters, downspouts and splash guards.
• Fix pipes or spigots that are leaking.
• Loosen compacted ground where puddles form.

Landscape Management

• The perfect ecosystem for an ant is dense vegetation and organic debris. Consider the following alterations to make your landscaping less welcoming to ants.
• Trim back plants and tree branches that touch your exterior. Ants sometimes use these to get into your home.
• Pull weeds and remove unnecessary plants. This will promote better airflow and help to reduce moisture.
• Keep leaves raked away from your exterior and grass clippings picked up to reduce moisture and decaying organic material.
• Move firewood to at least 20 feet from your exterior.

Seal Entry Points

Once you've address attractants, you're definitely not done. Ants can encroach upon your home for no other reason than because it's there. As they explore your foundation perimeter, make it more difficult for them to enter your home.

• Use a caulking gun to seal around window and door frames, fill in holes created by wood-damaging pests, and close gaps around pipes.
• Repair or replace any damaged or missing door sweeps and weatherstripping on exterior doors.
• Seal cracks in your foundation walls with a foundation repair kit.
• Look for any rotting or decaying wood on your home and replace it if possible. If this is not possible, try to fill in any holes you can.

Pavement Ant Prevention

These ants are drawn to create their nests under sidewalks, walkways, driveways, and foundations. When they get near a home, cracks in foundation walls are inviting. But they are motivated by the presence of food, and the presence of food will allow them to grow their populations.

• Keep exterior trash in bags inside covered receptacles. This won't keep ants out but it will conceal the scent that attracts them.
• Refrain from feeding pets outdoors.
• Use natural oils to get control of aphids. These tiny insects, and the honeydew they produce, are a hearty food choice.
• Clean up after having cookouts.

Carpenter Ants

You're going to find carpenter ants in locations that have dead and rotting wood. Here are a few examples of wood that can attract carpenter ants.

• Trees with heart rot, stumps, and logs.
• Old wood fences and decks, especially if they are unpainted and unstained.
• Piles of leaves and stacks of wood.
• Railroad ties used for plant beds and wood borders around landscaping.

How American Pest Solutions Can Help

If you're having trouble with ants in Hartford and they seem to keep growing their populations no matter what you do, we can help you manage those ants and give your exterior the protection it needs to keep ants out. We make it easy to get started by offering a free inspection and pest control evaluation. Connect with us today.