Dear Ellen,

Can I keep ants off my deck by putting cut up pieces of garlic in between the planks?

Diane, Sacremento, California

Dear Diane,

WOW! I really wouldn't recommend that! I processed a lot of garlic in our garage this fall, and it still reeks of rancid garlic juice. How about planting a nice bed of mint under the deck? Most decks allow water and light to reach the ground below. Mint likes cool, shady areas, and ants hate mint.

Environmentally yours,

Ellen