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Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Key 30p hack to keep ants from invading your garden slabs is already sitting in your kitchen cupboard, says patio expert
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. 1 Ants can be a nuisance if they invade your patio Credit: Getty 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. "This can 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.' Read more garden stories CLEAN SLATE Gardeners rave over £1.99 Home Bargains cleaning spray that banishes moss 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. 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. Top Pest Control Tips for Your Yard 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 Owyheei ant can live up to 30 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. '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.'
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Gardeners rave over ‘brilliant' £1.99 Home Bargains cleaning spray that banishes moss and transforms fences in minutes
Get your garden summer party ready without forking out on a pricey pressure washer CLEAN SLATE Gardeners rave over 'brilliant' £1.99 Home Bargains cleaning spray that banishes moss and transforms fences in minutes GARDENERS are going wild for a 'brilliant' £1.99 spray from Home Bargains that zaps moss and grime in minutes. The miracle product removes green algae and leaves your fences, patios and paths looking brand new. 3 Banish moss and transform fences in minutes Credit: Getty 3 Gardeners rave over 'brilliant' £1.99 Home Bargains cleaning spray Credit: Home Bargains Algae has a particular affinity for moist and shaded areas, so if your fence is in a part of the garden that lacks sunlight, algae invasion is far more likely. The Spear & Jackson Algae Mould & Lichen Remover is a ready to use surface biocide for the control of algae, mould, lichen and fungi. Gardening fans have praised the £1.99 cheap product from Home Bargains and say it does the job just as well as a pressure washer - and for a fraction of the price. And you can say goodbye to spending hours scrubbing on your hands and knees. The mould killer, which works in all weather conditions, is formulated with active ingredients designed to counteract and prevent growth. So, there will be no need to worry about the green mould returning for months or even years to come. The description on Home Bargains website reads: "This ready-to-use 750ml spray is perfect for tackling pesky mould and algae on patios, walls, roofs, and more, keeping your outdoor spaces looking fresh and clean." It adds: "Formulated to work on external surfaces such as patios, walls, fencing, roofs, tiles, boats and caravans." Whenever it rains, the cleverly designed formula is reactivated to help control the gunge and grime without scouring or damaging the surface that has been infested. Another suggestion for removing algae is a product you'll likely already have in your kitchen cupboards - white vinegar. Alan Titchmarsh's 'easiest' tip will fix bald patches on your lawn in two minutes flat this spring & no it's not seeding Fabulous previously told how gardening whizz William Mitchell of Sutton Manor Nursery backed up the effectiveness of the natural solution. Talking to The Express, he recommended diluting it with water before spraying it onto the affected area. Fans of cleaning guru Mrs Hinch have divulged their favourite tips for banishing this unsightly green stuff from garden fences. Posting on Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips, a public Facebook page with 532,500 members, a gardening enthusiast named Hayley Senior asked: 'Any tips for getting rid of all the green algae type stuff on the fence and patio and furniture? 'I sprayed the fences black, so it looks worse this year!' Numerous cleaning solutions flooded in, but there was one product that was raved about by many - Wet & Forget. One user said: 'A product called 'Wet and Forget'. Literally spray it on and in a day or two it's like new! It can be used on any material. Works on wood and composite decking.' A second claimed: 'Wet and Forget is game-changing! Our fences got green, we mixed up some Wet and Forget with the appropriate amount of water, and it was literally all gone in one hour. A container lasts ages.' Someone else wrote: 'Wet and Forget, but needs to be above five degrees and no chance of rain.' Meanwhile, a fourth shared: 'Wet and Forget is amazing, my fences were completely green. It removed all of it just by spraying it. You'll need to dilute it with water and use a spray bottle. It also cleans your patio.' Not only this, but another chimed in: 'Most caravan users use Wet and Forget for their decking. I'm hearing it's fab.' If you fancy giving this trick a try, you can buy Wet & Forget from B&Q or Wickes for £18 for a 2L bottle.
