AN EXPERT has revealed a 30p hack to banish ants from your garden patio - and you probably already have it in your kitchen cupboard.
With temperatures set to soar again this week, many of us are likely planning on spending as much time as we can in the garden.
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But there's nothing worse than settling down in your favourite deck chair with a cup of tea and a good book, only to spot an infestation of rats on your garden slabs.
Ants typically emerge when the weather gets warmer, and as well as being unsightly, can dig under your patio slabs and cause problems.
“By tunnelling through the sand under and between your paving, they can damage the integrity of the joints, causing paver sinkage," Steven Walley, patio and paving expert from London Stone said.
"Thiscan not only make the floor uneven but it can also cause bigger gaps to appear between paving slabs, leading to weeds and moss to grow.”
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Steven revealed that to spot signs that ants have infested your patio, look out for sand and dirt piles, as ants leave these behind when they dig under your pavers.
To deter ants from your patio, the expert said that it is important to always keep the space tidy.
If you have any outdoor furniture or a BBQ, make sure to always wipe them down, as any small scraps of food can attract pests.
If this doesn't work, you can try some natural methods to remove them.
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Spreading the skin of citrus fruits around your patio is a simple budget friendly method.
The acidity of the fruits confuses the ants, and makes them unable to find their food source.
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Citrus fruits such as lemons are super cheap, and you can pick them up from the supermarket for as little as 30p.
Other cheap deterrents you can use are things you probably already have in the kitchen cupboard, such as coffee beans, cinnamon and salt.
"Sprinkle these along entryways in you're having problems," the expert said.
If you don't manage to deter the pests before it's too late, Steven revealed a simple trick to deter them.
Mind-blowing ants
Ants are fascinating critters with some very unique skills and traits.
There are actually more than 12,000 different types of ant in the world.
They are also the longest living insect around.
While some insects only live for a couple of days,Pogonomyrmex Owyheeiant can live up to30 years.
It's also well-known that ants are one of the strongest creatures around compared to their size.
A single ant can lift objects up to 50 times its own weight.
Ants don't have ears - and some don't have eyes either.
Instead, they rely on vibrations to detect what's around them.
For the eye-less ants, they use their antennae to communicate with other ants.
They can also send a chemical signal, telling nest mates of possible dangers or to win over a potential lover.
“To treat an infestation in your patio, sprinkle baking soda around the affected area.
"If the ants don’t take to the bait, add a little sugar into the baking soda mix.
"Just make sure to do the job on a dry day, to avoid it being washed away.
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“If you still struggle to get rid of the infestation, pour hot water down the patio holes to disrupt the nest.
"This will encourage them to move on.”
