Ants are some of the most common insects found in lawns. While some people may not see them as a problem, others find them to be a nuisance. If you’re someone who’s looking for information on how to deal with ants in your lawn, then this article is for you. In this article, we’ll be answering some common questions about ants in lawns and how to deal with them.
Are ants in the lawn bad?
While ants are generally not harmful to lawns, they can be a nuisance. Ants can create unsightly mounds in the lawn, which can lead to scalping the lawn when mowing. Ants may also attract birds to the lawn although this is rarely a problem. Additionally, some species of ants, such as fire ants, can deliver painful bites to people and pets.
How to deal with ants in your lawn?
Unless the ants are really causing severe problems we would not advocate killing these creatures as they have lots of benefits in our environment. However, we appreciate that they can cause issues when in considerable numbers.
If you’ve determined that ants are a problem in your lawn, here are some ways to deal with them:
- Insecticides: there are several insecticides available that can kill ants in your lawn. These products come in liquid, granular, or powder form, and can be applied directly to the ant mound or scattered over the entire lawn. We have found that drenching the affected areas work best and pre-wetting helps the movement of water through the soil profile.
- Natural remedies: it is possible to use nematodes to act as parasites on ants. These can be bought on the internet and applied when the ants are active.
- The nests above the soil surface are really the problem when it comes to ants. So, if you spot them soon enough, disperse the soil with a leaf rake to eliminate the mound. If things have gone too far you may have to use a spade or shovel to “cut” the mound and then reseed.
Conclusion
While ants may not be harmful to lawns, the mounds they produce are a nuisance. If you’re looking to get rid of ants in your lawn, there are several methods available, but we think it is better to just deal with the mounds by dispersing or removing them. Whether you choose to use insecticides or natural remedies, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself and your lawn.