How To Get Rid Of Ants In Lawn Naturally

When To Call An Exterminator

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When is it okay to call for professional help in getting rid of ants in yards? When youve tried all other options, but the ants keep coming back, you might decide its time to bring in a professional exterminator. These pros have the necessary training and chemicals to eradicate the problem permanently.

Spray Anthills With Vinegar

One of the best things that you can do is use vinegar to keep ants from wanting to come in your yard again.

If you can find the anthill where the ants came from, then you can easily spray a bunch of vinegar in the anthill. Ants cant stand vinegar and itll kill them really well but there are some potential problems to consider with this option.

The first thing to note is that vinegar has the potential to be harmful to the nearby vegetation. If the anthill happens to be near some plants that you would like to save, then you might wish to hold back since the plant could be damaged by the vinegar that youre spraying.

Vinegar is quite potent and it can even damage the topsoil if you spray a whole lot of it.

Youre likely going to have to spray quite a bit of vinegar if youre trying to kill a colony of ants. Just be aware that this can cause issues for plants so that you can be prepared for that.

To get the best results, youre going to want to mix up vinegar and water into a spray bottle in equal parts.

Killing Ants In Your Lawn

Several methods can be combined to kill ants.

The first is to go straight to the ants nests and break them open with a stick, once the nest is opened an Ant Dust can be put directly down the nest. This should be done with all nests.

An ideal Ant Dust is Fipronil, a 500g granular insecticide, which is a fast-acting, odourless product specifically formulated to control Ants. Fipronil is also safe to use on Zoysia, Kikuyu, Buffalo, and Couch grasses and can easily be applied by sprinkling over the area to be treated. Always read the label carefully before use.

Ants will survive and repopulate new nests, however, so the next method is to use a liquid Ant Poison.

This type of poison is then baited in small quantities at all locations around the property where ants are most active. The ants then take this liquid poison back to their nests, killing even more ants than would be achieved by other methods.

There are specialised liquid insecticides designed to offer superior control of insect pests such Ants in lawns. PCT Fivestar 1L contains the active ingredient Bifenthrin and is a suitable insecticide for Ant control whilst being safe to use on Zoysia, Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo grasses.

Another effective liquid insecticide for Ant control that is suitable for use on Zoysia, Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo grasses, is Indigo Rumbler 100SC 5L, which also contains the active ingredient Bifenthrin.

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Ant Hills In The Lawn: How To Get Rid Of Ant Hills In The Lawn

Ant hills or ant mounds in your lawn are the indications of an established ant colony. They are comprised of decomposed material, clay, sand, and tiny rock particles. It looks like a simple dome-like aggregate of soil and decomposed material. However, it can go up to several feet deeper and wider under the soil surface and form a complex labyrinth that provides a safe shelter to ants.

Underneath the soil, there are well-crafted chambers and tunnels for workers and queen. The mound also used as an insulator against extreme temperatures and harsh weather conditions. The colony of ants can grow up to thousands and millions if not disturbed. Simply, leveling the ant hill will not help to get rid get of the problem. There is a simple way that can kill most of the ants inside of the ant hill, try doing the following:

• The first step is to locate the anthills. You can place ant baits in order to track the ants back to the anthills. After locating ant hills, the easiest way to get rid of them is the application of boiling water directly over the mounds at the entry points of ants.

• Pour hot water to completely drench the ant mound. You can add liquid soap in the steaming hot water to increase its effectiveness.

If you want to know more about ant hills and the ways to get rid of them, click on the following link: How to Get Rid of Ant Hills: A Complete Guide.

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How To Get Rid Of Ants In Grass

Ants can be an annoying pest to deal with if theyre formed a colony on your lawn. Theyre small, hardy, and grow in number quite quickly.

While using insecticides might seem like the best way of killing ants in your lawn, there are some issues with doing this. Chemical pest control can kill off other insects that are beneficial for your lawn, and can cause unwanted environmental damage through water run-off. Its best to avoid using pesticides on grass your children and pets play on.

In this guide, well explain how to get rid of ants in your lawn, the eco-friendly, natural way.

But first, lets look at some of the issues ant colonies can cause for your lawn.

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How Can I Get Rid Of An Ant Colony

Its usually a futile effort to attempt to kill every ant in the colony. Your first step in getting rid of the ants is to disturb their nest. Raking the top off ant hills is a simple way to make life unpleasant for an ant population. Rake weekly or whenever you see a hill starting to form.

Pouring water on the nest often makes ants move on. Spraying the area with a solution of black pepper and water repels ants. Some people have found success by making a tea of tobacco and spraying that on the nest. Others deposit used coffee grounds around the nest.

If you drink mint tea, place your used tea bags around the ant nest. Otherwise, crush dry mint leaves and sprinkle the powder around the colony and on the ant trails. Ants dislike cucumbers, so dropping pieces of cucumber around their homes can make them move away.

Are Some Ants Good For Your Lawn And Garden

Most of the ants are not a potential threat to your lawn. Anthills or mounds can be a cause of nuisance but in return, some ants help in soil aeration, pollination, seed dispersal, and protect your lawn from aphids. Ants eat up aphids, bugs, and other pests that can harm your lawn or garden. Ants facilitate the redistribution of nutrients in the soil, act as scavengers and decompose dead material and insects into fertilizer which helps in plant growth.

They patrol all over your lawn and protect your vegetation from plant-eating insects. They also help in flowering by eating the sticky outer layer around the buds which is a great food source for ants. However, keep an eye on the ant colonies in your lawn because established larger ant colonies can do more harm than help.

Related: Ants in Garden: Are Ants Good for Plants in Your Garden?

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How To Get Rid Of Ants In The Garden

Before morphing into Rambo and unleashing righteous fury upon the unsuspecting ants in your garden, please ask yourself the following questions:

• Are they in an isolated area of my garden?
• Are they a threat to me or to my family?
• Are they a threat to my home?

There is no need to kill things just for the sake of killing them.

Now that the moralising is taken care of, lets move on to turning you into the worlds greatest ant killer.

Negative Effects Of Ants In Your Lawn

One main negative effect ants make on your lawn is by them creating ant hills. Ant hills are made from the ants excavating soil from the dirt underneath the grass, which they placed on the lawns surface.

Ant hills make the surface of your yard uneven, meaning you or your children and trip over them when youre walking. A lawn mower could also get stuck or damaged by the mounds.

Ants also frequently eat through the roots of the grass while constructing their nests and tunnels, leaving barren areas throughout your yard.

Ants also farm aphids, which then supply the ants with honeydew that they create. Aphids are annoying insects to have in your yard because they eat many plants and grasses.

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Home Made Ant Killers Vs Professional Products

If you want to completely get rid of the ants in your lawn you need to target the source. In other words, the nest.

There are a few ways to kill ants nests which include home remedies and specific ant killers. Home remedies have their drawbacks and Id recommend you use a proper ant killer but in the interest of being thorough, Ill cover both.

Easy Ways To Repel Ants

To lower the chances of ants wandering indoors, follow these easy tips.

• Make a barrier. Place a substance that ants dislike along door thresholds, window ledges, baseboards anywhere ants might enter your home. Ants dislike cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ground chalk and cornmeal.
• Spritz vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with equal amounts common white vinegar and water. Spray where ants enter your home.
• Peel citrus. Save and dry citrus peels . Place dried peels in a food processor or grinder and pulse them into powder. Sprinkle powdered peels in areas where ants enter the home.
• Use oils. Essential oils including peppermint, tea tree and citrus types repel ants. Blend 1/4-cup of water with 7 drops of citrus oil or 15 drops of tea tree or peppermint oils. Shake well and spray along baseboards, windowsills or other places ants enter your home. Or place a few drops of orange, lemon or peppermint oil on cotton balls and tuck into cabinets or pantry areas to keep ants out.

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Why Are There So Many Ant Hills In My Yard

This is one question that many people will often ask! Like most insects on your lawn, Ants are there for three things only: shelter, water, and food.

If these three items are available and easily accessible, ants will most likely prefer to build their nest there, resulting in unpleasant ant mounds all over your lawn.

So how do you get rid of ants mounds in your lawn? There are several ways you can use to eliminate ant mounds. Lets look at different methods of getting rid of ant mounds on your lawn.

Treat With Diatomaceous Earth

Food grade diatomaceous earth is a gardener staple made from algae fossils, and its a natural insecticide in powder or granules. When ants eat the diatomaceous earth, they become dehydrated.

This granule slowly kills any ant that ingests it. Using Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth is a great way to kill colonies, as it allows the ants to survive long enough to take the product from the bait station back to their members of the colony or nest. Ensure that you only use food-gradediatomaceous earth.

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Cayenne Can Kill Ants

Cayenne is a potent agent against insects but will not harm grass. Get a whisk and mix three tablespoons of cayenne pepper sauce with 1 quart of water and ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a bowl. Put this mixture in a spray bottle.

Locate the ant nest and spray generous amounts of this mixture. You can also pour some of it into the nest. The capsicum element in the cayenne sauce and the soap components are deadly to ants and these will cause their extermination.

Why Does My Yard Have So Many Ants

There are various types of ants and they come in all sizes, but almost all build anthills where they can settle. These insects build their nests under the ground or in the hollows of trees, digging the soft part of plants. This is why yards have so many ants it is the perfect place to settle their colony of ants.

The nests are where these social insects accumulate and process supplies to feed themselves and proliferate. Anthills are connected by a network of tunnels that run underground and are recurring places where worker ants enter and leave.

It can be difficult to notice this type of activity from the outside since the nests are usually located at a fairly deep distance. However, if you pay attention, you may notice some lumps at the entrances and ants coming and going. In the case of the burrows that are formed in the trees, it is easier to notice them, since ants climb to get in them.

Another reason that attracts ants to lawns is honeydew. This is the substance that aphids release from plants as they pass over leaves and stems. Its sugary taste attracts bees, wasps, and ants, which attack plants to feed themselves in abundance. Ants that perch in trees are as dangerous to your garden as those that make their burrows in the ground. This is why, once you identify the nests, you must take immediate action to eliminate them.

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How To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Home

There are several different types of ants found in the United States. But the type youll want to look out for this winter: Carpenter ants! Carpenter ants, while seemingly harmless to humans, can create severe damage to your home. Carpenter ants in the United States typically hibernate during the winter so if you spot them in your house now, there is a high chance that an infestation has already occurred. The warmth of your home can keep ants from hibernating, and their activity can be detrimental. Homeowners in America should pay special attention to the following signs of carpenter ants:

• Tiny piles of sawdust near wooden structures of walls
• Rustling sounds
• Rotted, soft, or collapsed wood

If you notice any of the above listed in your home or suspect a carpenter ant invasion, we recommend having a calling a specialist immediately. A pest control specialist will be able to assess your pest problem and suggest the best solution. Carpenter ants are tough and a very common winter pest in America. Do not hesitate to contact a pest control company near your home for an environmentally friendly solution to your ant infestation this winter!

Will Insecticides That Kill Ants Damage Your Lawn

Whether the insecticide treatment is going to damage your lawn or not depends on the type of insecticide. Several control solutions can harm your grass if they are not applied according to the given instructional manual.

You can also seek professional help from an ant exterminator to avoid potential destruction of your lawn. It is necessary to read complete instructions before the application of insecticide for positive results. Prepare the insecticide solution according to given guidelines and treat the infested area to control ant colonies. Some of the insecticides come with ready to use spray bottles.

The treatment with insecticides is good for highly infested areas. They kill the ants right after treatment and they are much cheaper than other ant killers. Still if not handled by professionals, there have been cases where people have destroyed their lawns with improper handling of the insecticides.

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How Can I Kill The Ants

Homeowners who want to kill the ants in their yards rather than repel them often turn to diatomaceous earth . DE is the skeletal remains of tiny marine organisms. Its available for use in a food grade variety as well as a variety intended for use in swimming pools.

Use food grade DE against your ants. Use it dry, not wet. The very sharp DE particles will cut the bodies of the ants, causing them to die. It may take a week or so to kill all ants.

They Arent All the Same

Although there are thousands of kinds of ants, only a few species settle in your yard. These are:

• Pavement ants small black or brown ants that like greasy and protein foods as well as sugary food. Read more here.
• Carpenter ants large ants that can be red or black. They prefer damp wood and will destroy structural parts of your house. Please see detailed descriptions here.
• Fire ants small to large red ants with a painful sting. For more info about how to get rid of fire ants check out this article.
• Odorous ants medium-size brown and black ants that love sugar. for more information about best way to get rid of sugar ants.

Common types of ants

S To Killing Ants In Your Grass

If you have a lawn in your home, its of extreme importance for you to be in the know about the latest techniques on how to exterminate ants on your lawn. You will allow you to enjoy your lawn and keep it free from the menace caused by these creatures and help protect your beautiful plants and allow them to mature.

Though, youll need to be very cautious of the method used, as using the wrong approach may destroy your garden. First, youll need to be specific about the type of ants that have invaded your yard before you choose the best method of eradicating them.

• Using Boiling Water
• Anthill killer poison

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