Summer can be the perfect time for backyard barbecues, poolside fun, and outdoor lounging. But not if your lawn has been claimed by ants. At the height of the season, ants may force you to avoid your grass and miss out on lots of summertime fun. To help control outdoor infestations, we’ve put together a list of ways to get rid of ants in your lawn without killing your grass or other plants.
How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Lawn
If your only goal is ant control in your yard, it would be easy to use pesticides. But it’s a bit more complicated if you want to kill the ants without killing your grass. Many ant-killing chemicals will destroy your grass, so to help you out, we recommend these alternate lawn-saving ant control methods.
Here are five grass-friendly ways to get rid of ants in your lawn:
- Rake ant mounds: Most ants prefer dry, sandy soil, and if an ant mound is left long enough, the mound (and nest beneath it) can start to harden, protecting the nest and making it difficult to remove. By raking mounds as soon as you notice them and spreading the dirt around, you can continually disturb the ants and their network of tunnels and entrances, making it less likely that they will stay.
- Spray soap and water: Choose an eco-friendly soap (so the rest of the environment can thrive, including your grass) and spray it into and around the mounds. Don’t make the water too hot (another grass killer). Room temperature water is fine. By diluting the soap, you’re lessening the chances of the soap interfering with your grass, and you’re making it very difficult for ants to live.
- Spread diatomaceous earth around: This gardener staple is made from the fossils of algae, and it’s a natural insecticide. Ants eat the diatomaceous earth, and it dehydrates them from within, slowly killing any ant that ingests it. It’s a great way to kill an ant mound from the inside out, as the ants will survive long enough to take the diatomaceous earth back to the nest. Only buy food-grade diatomaceous earth — diatomaceous earth used in pools or other chemical systems has an entirely different chemical content.
- Use chili pepper: This one is a big maybe. Some say it works to repel ants, and others call it an old wives tale. It definitely can’t hurt, but it’s not proven.
- Use baits: This tactic works best when you don’t have young children or pets in the backyard. Baits are a great choice because you don’t have to spread chemicals on your lawn, which ensures your grass will be happy, and the ants will be dead. There are even some baits made especially to withstand outdoor climates and weather. One potential drawback is that if you don’t spread enough baits, your ant mounds may end up migrating to the other side of your lawn.
How to Kill Ants But Not Your Lawn
- Try to avoid chemicals if you can. Insecticides will kill your grass in a short amount of time.
- Don’t use boiling water. It probably won’t do enough to kill the entire ant colony but will definitely contribute to grass loss.
- Don’t use vinegar. Acetic acid can dry out the top layer of your lawn.
- Only use soap and water in the morning and evening — avoid it during daytime hours. When you use any kind of liquid on your lawn during the day, you’re essentially magnifying the sun’s effects on your grass, causing burns and deterioration. If the sun’s out, the water should be away!
Are Ants Beneficial for Your Lawn?
Before deciding how to keep ants off your lawn, ask yourself if it’s necessary. Ants can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, so it’s important to ask yourself whether you can tolerate them. Ants can be important to any ecosystem of which they’re a part. They may aid in decomposition processes and provide a level of control over other pests. The presence of ants also means that your soil is getting a low but constant level of aeration. This prevents soil compaction, which can have long-term benefits for your trees, shrubs, and grass.
When in Doubt, Call a Professional Ant Exterminator
Of course, the easiest way to get rid of ants in your lawn is to call an ant control expert. By calling an expert, you can minimize damage to your lawn, remove ant mounds in record time, and enjoy your lawn all summer long.
We provide one-time services, as well as a comprehensive pest control service plan for long-term protection from ants. Call Antworks today for an ant extermination quote!
