Gardener and social media star Jonny Hincks has shared a straightforward method for eliminating ants from gardens during hot weather. Appearing as a guest on the RHS Roots YouTube channel with presenter Jo Whiley, Hincks demonstrated how a simple terracotta pot can help remove ant hills within a few days.
Ant Activity Increases in Warm Weather
Ants become far more visible during warmer months as higher temperatures boost their activity levels. Spring and summer mark their primary foraging and breeding periods, and gardens offer abundant food sources including nectar, seeds, insects, and the sweet honeydew secreted by aphids. The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is the most frequently encountered ant species across the UK, often nesting under paving slabs, in soil, flower pots, compost heaps, and along lawn edges. Another common species is the yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus), which builds small mounds of earth in lawns. Neither species poses a threat to humans or stings, according to Gardeners' World.
The Terracotta Pot Method
During the YouTube tour of his Warwickshire garden, presenter Jo Whiley complimented Hincks's pristine lawn and asked about the “worst thing” that could affect it. Whiley confessed she has “a big issue with ant hills,” prompting Hincks to share his solution. “So, what I do is, I have a terracotta pot and I turn it upside down and I put it over the actual mound itself. Now, the heat and the lack of sunlight causes the ants to build the nest higher,” Hincks explained. He added: “Leave it for a few days and the heat, especially with this heat we've got at the minute, the heat draws the nest up. Take the terracotta pot off and then you can literally just shovel up the ants nest and move it somewhere else.”
Additional Deterrent Strategies
Gardeners' World suggests other methods to deter ants from establishing nests in plant pots. Consistent watering can discourage nesting, as ants prefer dry environments. The website advises: “Move on ants, by watering soil and pots regularly. Avoid completely flooding the pot, as this can kill the ants. But regular watering will let them know that the plant pot isn't the best place to make a nest – as they do best in dry environments – so they will move their eggs elsewhere.” Companion planting is also recommended: “Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, is a strongly scented herb that can deter aphids, reducing food sources for ants. Lavender plants can be a great option too, as the scent repels ants.”
