Try Cinnamon ( I know one has to give up some things !LOL so you make less cinnamon sugar!LOL)
I tried it and low and behohld !! the ants didn't cross it and in the crack of cement, I also put some:GONE were the ants. So I tried it around the roses:GONE were the ants. hmmm I am thinking .. so We put ooodles of cinnamon around the place, I am told ants won't cross a barrier if its put between them and their home.
Also Cayenne Pepper works for the stray cats that love to poo in our yard!! lol DON'T get me wrong, I love cats and have had cats, but my cats didn't go into the neighbor's yards and poo. They even had a litter box outside to poo in !LOL I just shook it around where they were doing their business, no more picking up their poo!! Cats don't like HOT anything.
OH yeah,just so you know I am a skeptic at home remedies even tho they worked for others. I have to try them to prove they work or don't work !LOL