If you are planning a family picnic, ants do not need to ruin your plans. You can prevent the clever insects from crawling all over your food items by following a few simple tips:
1. Wrap sweet treats in plastic bags or containers.
If you must serve watermelon or cantaloupe at your picnic, do not serve the fruit until the last minute. Do not leave open bottles of apple juice or grape juice on the table. Seal trail mix and similar items in plastic zippered storage bags or plastic containers.
2. Do not wear cologne or perfume.
Ants love sweet fragrances. One simple way to prevent ants from spoiling your picnic is to refrain from wearing cologne or perfume. Avoid wearing essential oils that smell sweet. Do not wear hand lotion featuring a floral scent. Do not use a leave-in hair conditioner boasting a flowery fragrance.
3. Place table legs inside buckets filled with water.
If you put a bucket of water under each table leg, it is unlikely that the ants will even reach the top of your picnic table. However, placing buckets of water around the table may attract mosquitoes. Consequently, the old trick involving buckets filled with water may not offer the best solution.
4. Spread a few grains of sugar at the far end of the table.
Designate a special area where ants may gather and partake of a sweet treat. Make sure the area is far away from your guests. Pour a few grains of raw turbinado cane sugar at a distant end of the table. Pour the natural sugar granules into a small bowl permitting the ants to crawl inside the container. Hopefully, the tiny creatures will remain in the same spot.
5. Spray the area with sour scents.
Mix apple cider vinegar, distilled white vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice with water. Next, spray the mixture around your picnic table. Ants do not favor sour fragrances. You can also use a citrus essential oil or light a few candles made with citrus scents.
6. Sprinkle ground cinnamon everywhere.
Although cinnamon does have a rather sweet odor, ants do not appreciate the scent. One trick that may help prevent ants from ruining your picnic is to sprinkle ground cinnamon all over the top of the picnic table and on the ground near the legs of the table. You can also use a slightly damp sponge or paper towel to spread the cinnamon on the bottom portions of the table's legs.
Remember that ants are not in control of your life. If you are experiencing a persistent ant infestation in your home or on your patio, contact Germantown Pest Control & Termite for professional assistance.