How do I get rid of ant nests in my polytunnel?

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How do I get rid of ant nests in my polytunnel?
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There are simple things you can do to discourage them without resorting to harmful and often ineffective insecticides

This is a tough one. I once had to spend a couple of hours in a polytunnel where I was stung repeatedly by ants , so I really sympathise. The painful stings of some ants aside, ants also feed on the sticky honeydew excreted by aphids, which they deliberately “farm”.

But still, there’s no denying that a nest of them in a polytunnel isn’t desirable. The good news is that there are simple things that you can do to discourage them without resorting to the use of environmentally harmful and often ineffective insecticides. The first is to avoid the use of timber as retaining edges for raised beds, which they really like.

Ants also dislike soil disturbance such as digging or forking the ground. Judging by the video you provided, this combination of mulching, watering and lightly forking over the soil in your polytunnel will also do a lot to boost its fertility and structure. Lastly, ants are reputed to dislike strong smells such as mint, lemon, vinegar, lavender and coffee, all of which many gardeners use as a means to deter them.

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