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Spring has officially arrived in Nashville—and even though the rain's been making a regular appearance, we’re finally getting glimpses of sunshine, blooming flowers, and longer days. It’s a beautiful time of year to be outside... but it’s also the season when pests like ants decide it’s time to make a comeback.
If you’re a homeowner in Middle Tennessee, you’ve probably noticed that as soon as the weather warms up, ants seem to come out of nowhere—marching across your kitchen counter or popping up around your trash cans. The good news? There’s a lot you can do to stop them.
At All-American Pest Control, we’ve helped thousands of Nashville families protect their homes, and we’re here to share some straightforward, tried-and-true tips to help you stay ahead of an ant invasion.
How do you prevent springtime ants?
When temperatures rise and spring showers give ants access to water, they become more active, emerging from their winter hiding spots in search of food and a cozy place to build their colony. Unfortunately, our homes are pretty appealing real estate for them.
Preventing ants in the spring requires that you eliminate the things that attract them to your house. Maintaining general cleanliness around your house plays a huge part in keeping ants away. The proper storage of food, reducing humidity and addressing moisture issues, and making your home difficult to access will all make it less likely that your home will experience an ant infestation. These prevention tips are good at keeping other springtime pests away as well.
Ants are small, sneaky, and persistent—but with a little planning and some smart prevention habits, you can make your home much less inviting.
When's the best time to kill ants?
Right now is the perfect time! Early spring is when ants are just getting going. If you take steps now, you can stop them before they make themselves at home—literally.
But even if you're seeing ants already, don’t worry—it’s never too late to act. The sooner you take action, the easier it will be to get them under control before the issue grows.
How do I keep ants away for good?
We get this question all the time. While it’s tough to say you’ll never see an ant again, consistent upkeep and a little help from the pros can make your home a whole lot less attractive to them.
Here’s what really works:
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Stay consistent with home maintenance: Clean, dry, and crumb-free goes a long way.
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Seal up the places they sneak in: No entry, no problem!
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Use professional pest control services: Quarterly treatments can keep your home protected year-round.
10 easy tips to control ants this spring
Ready to take control? These 10 simple tips can make a big difference:
1. Clean Up Food Spills Right Away
Ants have a serious sweet tooth and an incredible sense of smell. That tiny juice spill or crumb-covered counter? They’ll find it. Wiping up spills quickly keeps their scouts from reporting back with good news.
2. Use Airtight Food Storage
Cardboard cereal boxes and bags of flour and sugar might be fine for you—but to ants, they're an open buffet. Store dry goods in sealed containers, and keep fruit off the counters when possible.
3. Take Out the Trash Often
Don’t let yesterday’s dinner scraps turn into today’s ant party. An overflowing trash can will invite ant activity. Ants can easily get to any food items in the trash. Once they know that your trash is a good food source, they’ll keep returning to it. Instead, get in the habit of taking out your trash on a regular basis. Not only does this remove food items that ants might be attracted to, but it also prevents those food items from rotting and being even more attractive to ants and other pests. Another good idea is to wash the trash bin itself on occasion.
4. Don’t Leave Dirty Dishes Sitting
We get it—sometimes dishes just sit there. It doesn't seem like a big deal to put your dishes in the sink after a meal, but ants are drawn to the leftover food on plates and silverware. Make it a habit to rinse and load dishes promptly into the dishwasher or hand wash them, especially before bed.
5. Trim Back Plants and Bushes
Ants are expert climbers, and plants growing against your house can act like ladders. If a shrub is growing up against your house, they can easily crawl along the branches to get to an open window. A tree branch that touches your roof will allow ants to find their way inside from the upper levels of your house. By trimming the vegetation around your house, you make it more difficult for ants to get inside.
6. Seal Cracks and Crevices
Even the tiniest crack in your foundation or window frame can be an open door. Use caulk or weather stripping to seal entry points. By sealing every crack you can find in your foundation, as well as other openings, you’ll make it less likely that ants will find their way into your home.
7. Address Moisture Problems
Ants need water to survive, and damp spots around your home are a magnet for them. If your home has a lot of moisture in and around it, it will be more likely to attract ants. By reducing moisture outside, through proper drainage, cutting back vegetation, and making sure you don’t have any leaky pipes, you can make it less likely for ants to make your home theirs. Inside, use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity and check for leaks on a routine basis.
8. Properly Store Pet Food
Ants have varied diets that go beyond sugary foods. Many ant species prefer proteins and will be happy to eat your pet’s food if given the opportunity. Leaving pet dishes outside or in open containers in your house will invite ant activity. Store your pet’s food in sealed containers and feed them at set times each day to avoid an ant infestation.
9. Keep Bird Feeders Away from the House
Birdseed is another hidden attractant for ants as well as other pests. If you have feeders, try placing them farther from your house—and clean up spilled seed often.
10. Schedule Routine Pest Inspections
Even if you don’t see ants now, routine inspections from a pest professional can catch problems before they start. At All-American Pest Control, our experts will thoroughly inspect your home for any signs of an ant (or other pests ) related issue so that it can be taken care of as quickly as possible.
What the best repellents for ants?
You may have heard that strong scents like vinegar, peppermint oil, or cinnamon can repel ants—and it’s true, to a point. These smells can disrupt the pheromone trails ants leave behind for their buddies, which helps confuse them temporarily.
Vinegar spray, for example, can be great for wiping down ant trails on your counters. Just remember—it’s a short-term fix, not a permanent solution.
What works best to get rid of ants for good?
DIY baits and sprays can disrupt ants in the short term, but they don’t usually get to the heart of the problem: the colony. That’s where professional pest control comes in. We can identify the specific type of ant you’re dealing with and treat your home accordingly—something store-bought solutions just can’t match.
When are ants most active?
Ants are surprisingly active at all hours, but many species are busiest early in the morning or around dusk. If you’re seeing ants at specific times, that info can help your pest pro pinpoint the problem.
Let us keep your spring ant-free!
Whether you’re seeing a few ants in your kitchen or want to stay ahead of a potential problem, spring is the perfect time to call in reinforcements. Our ant control protects your home from ants and over 47 other common Tennessee pests—season after season.
Give All-American Pest Control a call at 615-824-8814 today or schedule online. Let’s keep your home comfortable, clean, and ant-free all spring (and beyond)!
Dependable Pest Control in Nashville, TN & Nearby Neighborhoods
Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.
We proudly serve: West End Heights, Bellevue, Brick Church, Charlotte Park, 12 South, Belmont, Burton Hills, Donelson, Edgehill, Ensworth, Hillsboro Village, Hillsboro West End, Melrose, Music Row, Radnor, Shelby Park, Sylvan Park, The Nations, Wedgewood Houston, West Nashville, Whites Creek, and the entire Davidson County and Greater Nashville areas.
For trusted pest control in Nashville, TN, and these surrounding communities, contact All American Pest Control today! Call (615) 824-8814 or schedule a free home evaluation online.