How to Get Rid of Ants in the House, in the Garden and in a Flower Pot

Ants sting, spread aphids onto plants and can destroy plants by moving in under their roots or into a flower pot. That is why probably nobody wants them in the garden. For ants, however, such a garden or even the inside of a house is a veritable paradise – there is plenty of fruit, crumbs and other leftovers. That is why they like to move close to human dwellings, and it is not easy to discourage them. If you have found ant trails at home or in the garden and intend to get rid of them, we have a few tips for you. If it is an anthill in the garden, the first thing that usually occurs to a person is to rake it apart. Such a measure is, however, completely ineffective, because the main part of the nest lies deeper in the ground. All you do is make the ants build their nest underground. Brute force is not very effective against ants, but strong smells and chemicals are. If you want to get rid of ants in the house, you will probably hesitate to use poisonous products. The problem, however, is that you usually will not find the ant nest, so it is not easy to eliminate the ants. Preventing ants It is not really possible to make sure ants never think of crawling into your garden. Sometimes it can help to scatter strongly scented spices (cinnamon, cloves) around the garden or to pour an infusion of them over the places where we do not want ants. If that does not help, there is no choice but to resort to chemical products. But you need not worry, there are also traps and products that do not harm the environment and therefore not your garden either. Scattered cinnamon can sometimes help in the home as well. The main prevention in a flat is not to leave out anything that ants might like – so keep all food in closed containers (ants easily gnaw through paper or thin plastic bags). It also pays to clean often, because even crumbs on the floor give ants enough food. Eliminating ants If it bothers you that ants spread aphids onto plants and trees, where they farm them and defend them against predators, you can try glue bands. Stick them around trees or around the edges of flower pots. Every ant and aphid that tries to cross gets stuck to the band. If you want to destroy the ant nest directly, you have three options – dig it out, set bait, or use chemical products directly on the nest. Digging out is a demanding but gentle method. You must bear in mind that ants build their nests deep down. If you do not dig out the whole nest, there is a high likelihood that they will multiply again before long. Move the dug-out nest somewhere outside the garden. Baits and ant buffets are a very effective way of eliminating them. It is important that the poison in the bait acts with a delay and that the ant carries it all the way to the nest. In this way you can effectively hit the source directly. They can be used both at home and in the garden. Ants are clever. If you use a poison that kills them quickly, they notice it and pass the message on. After that, no ant will even come near the bait. If you decide on the chemical route, you can choose mainly from sprays, gel and powder products. They work reliably, but kill only the ants they touch directly. They can reduce the number of ants considerably, but do not always destroy the centre of the anthill. But if you repeat the application regularly, it is a very effective method. For example, the product Biolit has proved its worth. You can find effective ant traps and products in our e-shop! Written by Eliška Kadlecová

In brief: Ants gather where it is warm, dry and there is enough food, so in the home you can best get rid of them with consistent prevention (food in closed containers, cleaning up crumbs) and targeted slow-acting baits that the ant carries all the way to the nest. Raking apart an anthill does not solve the problem on its own, because the main part of the nest stays deep in the ground.

Prevention in the house	food in closed containers, regular cleaning
Prevention in the garden	strongly scented spices (cinnamon, cloves) along the ants' routes
Eliminating the nest	slow-acting baits, or digging it out
Against aphids	glue bands around trees and flower pots

Ants sting, spread aphids onto plants and can even damage plant roots if they settle directly under them or in a flower pot. For ants, both the garden and the home are a veritable paradise – they find enough fruit, crumbs and other leftovers there, which is why they like to move close to human dwellings. If you have discovered ant trails at home or in the garden, this guide will show you how to proceed.

Why ants move into the house and the garden

Ants seek out warm and moist surroundings and tolerate cold and dryness less well. As soon as outdoor conditions get worse, they naturally head where things will be better for them, that is, into a home with a comfortable temperature and available food. In the garden, moreover, there is a kind of partnership between ants and aphids: ants protect aphids from predators or even carry them onto a chosen tree, and feed on their sweet secretions, known as honeydew. Around such "tended" aphid colonies the ants also build protective earth structures, which makes the fight against aphids on the affected plant considerably more complicated.

Why raking apart an anthill does not work

If you come across an anthill in the garden, the first impulse is often to rake it apart. This measure is, however, mostly not very effective, because the main part of the nest lies deep in the ground. Classic mound-shaped anthills are also cleverly built; their southern slope is usually gentler so that the nest absorbs heat better, and after being disturbed the ants simply build new quarters deeper underground.

Preventing ants in the home

You cannot completely stop ants from taking an interest in your home, but the main prevention is not to leave anything lying about that they might like. Keep all food in closed containers, because ants easily gnaw through paper or thin plastic bags. It also pays to clean often, because crumbs on the floor give them enough food and a reason to linger in the home.

Prevention in the garden

In the garden, strongly scented spices such as cinnamon or cloves, scattered along the places where the ants walk, can help, or you can pour an infusion of these spices over their route. If prevention is not enough, there is no choice but to reach for more targeted means; there are also traps and products that do not needlessly burden the environment or your garden.

Eliminating ant nests

If you want to eliminate the nest directly, you basically have three options: dig it out, set bait, or use a chemical product directly on the nest. Digging out is a gentle but physically demanding method – ants build nests deep down, and if you do not dig out the whole nest, the colony will multiply again before long. Move the dug-out nest outside the garden, ideally into open countryside at a sufficient distance from the house.

Baits are a very effective way of eliminating ants, whether at home or in the garden. It is important that the active substance in the bait acts with a delay, so that the ant manages to carry it all the way to the nest and infect the other members of the colony. Ants are clever – if you used a fast-acting poison, they would soon register the dead individuals and no other ant would then come near the bait.

Chemical products: sprays, gels and powders

If you decide on the chemical route, the choice is mainly sprays, gel and powder products. They work reliably, but kill only the ants they touch directly, so although they can reduce the number of ants considerably, they do not always reach the centre of the anthill. If the application is repeated regularly, it is nevertheless an effective method. With all chemical products follow the instructions for use and the manufacturer's safety instructions, especially if you have small children or pets at home.

Ants and aphids on plants

If ants bother you mainly because they spread aphids onto plants and defend them against predators, try glue bands. Stick them around tree trunks or around the edges of flower pots – every ant and aphid that tries to cross gets stuck to the band and goes no further. If you want to deal with aphids on plants directly, you will find a detailed procedure in the article Aphids: how to get rid of them gently or with an approved product.

Problem	Solution
Ants in the house	closed food containers, cleaning, gel or powder products
Anthill in the garden	slow-acting baits, or digging it out
Ants on trees because of aphids	glue bands around the trunk
Ants in a flower pot	glue band around the rim, repotting into fresh substrate

Ants in a flower pot

If ants have built a nest directly in a flower pot, the plant may suffer from a disturbed root system and uneven moisture in the substrate. The solution is usually to carefully take the plant out together with its root ball, inspect the substrate thoroughly and possibly replace it with fresh substrate in which the ants have no tunnels. A glue band around the rim of the pot will then help prevent further ants getting in from outside.

When to turn to a professional pest control company

If, despite repeated application of products and consistent prevention, ants keep coming back in large numbers in the house or garden, or if it is a species that can cope even with commonly available products, it makes sense to contact a professional pest control company. Professionals can locate the nest more precisely and use stronger means that are not normally available to households.

Frequently asked questions

Does raking apart an anthill in the garden help?

Mostly not; the main part of the nest stays deep in the ground and after being disturbed the ants simply build new quarters elsewhere below the surface.

How do I get rid of ants in a flower pot?

Take the plant out together with its root ball, replace the substrate with fresh substrate and use a glue band around the rim of the pot to prevent further ants getting in.

Why do ants in the garden spread aphids?

Ants live with aphids in a kind of partnership – they protect them from predators and feed on their sweet honeydew, which is why they also deliberately carry them onto chosen plants.

Which type of ant product works best?

Baits with a slow-acting poison tend to be the most effective; the ant manages to carry it all the way to the nest before it dies itself, and so infects the other members of the colony too.

Is it safe to use chemical ant products in a home with children?

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety instructions, store products out of the reach of children and animals, and prefer gel baits in closed stations to loosely scattered powder.

How long does it take for the bait to work and the ants to disappear?

Usually several days to two weeks, because the active substance has to act with a delay and gradually spread through the whole colony. So do not expect a result on the very first day after setting the bait.

Sources

Updated: 11 October 2026