Would a compost pile in the backyard help keep ants out of the house?

Question

Ants have been getting into our pantry and it's been really hard to get rid of them. I was wondering, if we put a compost pile in the backyard, would the ants go for that instead so they don't get into our kitchen?

Answer 1

The compost pile won't work, you'll just feed the colony, which will grow and need even more food.  You need to zap these once and for all.

Firstly, put all the bare / opened food in your pantry into ziplock bags or boxes so they've got nothing to feed on.

Then get some ant baits that are based on Boric Acid, and leave these in a place where the ants will find them and feed on them (Terro is one USA brand I know of or Nippon in the UK).  The ants feed on the Boric Acid / Sugar mix, and take it back to the nest where it kills the other ants and the queen (most importantly).  It's kind of gross, but you have to let the ants come in and out of your kitchen feeding on the poison.  Depending on the size of the nest, they should disappear in 3-4 days.

Also, place similar traps outside to help get rid of all the colonies that are around your property.

Keep the poison away from your children and pets, and follow the instructions on the packet.

Answer 2

Doubtful, you need some ant bait to get rid of them for good.

Answer 3

ants prefer a dry area, so when you dig a garden or a small plot of land near your home you disturb their habitat, so they go looking for a secure dry area , your house, keep spraying, wash the outside of jam jars , honey pots, etc.they are attracted to the sugary parts of your pantry, be patient they will move on

Answer 4

I don't  think so

Answer 5

A compost pile, if you use kitchen scraps, will only attract more ants--and rats.  

Keeping ants out of the house is next to impossible.  But you can kill them once they are inside.  

Terro Liquid Ant Bait is what I use, and it's worked every time.  It does not contain chemicals or pesticides.  The key ingredient is Borax, a mineral that is mined in the desert in California and is a common active ingredient that is used in soap products.  It kills ants but will not harm people or pets.  (The tiny Borax granules are sharp, and slice up the ant's digestive tract.  The granules simply pass through people and pets, if eaten.)  You can put the ant baits in your kitchen pantry.  The ants feed for a few days, then disappear.