How to get rid of ant hills in my yard

Summer is here and ant hills are beginning to pop up in our yards and around our property. These dirt mounds can damage lawns and create a nuisance for outdoor living spaces. Some ants are also capable of toxic bites that can leave welts and allergic reactions to people and animals. The answer to how to get rid of ant hills is not so simple, unfortunately, but Any Pest is here to help.

What you need to know about ant hills:

Construction

Ants build elaborate colonies underground with maze-like tunnels that interconnect for shelter and to feed and take care of their queen. When they construct their colony, the displaced soil and debris are taken up to the surface, thus creating a mound above ground. Ants move more earth than any other organism and can create a large ant hill mound overnight. Most mounds are constructed by fire ants and their colonies can be 10 feet to more than 20 feet deep and spread more than 8 feet laterally. Fire Ants are polygenic meaning “multiple queens” which enables them to create huge colonies.

A good rule of thumb: Colonies are generally 1.5 inches deep per 1 each inch of height above ground.

Hazards

Ant hills become an issue when disturbed and depending on which type of ants are inhabiting your yard, they can cause caustic bites and health hazards. Small children and pets are susceptible to being bit if they accidentally disturb the mound. If bitten by fire ants, dab a small amount of ammonia on bites pain and itching will go away. Ammonia is an active ingredient in some over the counter bite remedies. Then wash bites with dishwashing soap to help prevent welts. Ants can also cause damage to your lawn and landscaping from the digging and displacement of soil around your sod or plants.

Prevention

The prevention of ant hills can be confusing. There is a misconception that the ants actually dwell in the mound and simply destroying above ground hill will eliminate the colony. But this solution will only cause the ants to shift their location and build another mound to suit their tunnel system. To properly dispose of ant hills in your yard, call Any Pest for professional and timely service. We will eliminate the colony at the source and help prevent them from returning.

Ant Prevention Myths

These DIY remedies have been touted for decades to help eliminate any hills but they actually do not work

• Boiling Water
• Vinegar
• Lemons
• Club Soda
• Cinnamon

Ant Pest Control In Atlanta, GA

At Any Pest, Inc we provide expert pest control for any problem you may have with an ant infestation. We can identify the problem and ensure that you get rid of all of the ants causing damage to your home. Furthermore, we can help to prevent future infestations so that you won’t have to worry about ants in the future. Call us at 678-888-0035 or contact us online for a free estimate today!

Ant Hills In Grass: How To Control Ants In Lawns

By: , Certified Urban Agriculturist

Ants are not generally considered dangerous pests, but they can pose significant health and cosmetic damage to turf grass. Controlling ants in the lawn becomes important where their hill building causes root damage to grass and unsightly mounds. These colony insects settle in large numbers and build intricate labyrinths in grass root systems. Ant hills in grass may pose a hazard to foot travelers and mower blades. Knowing how to control ants in lawns begins with some information on these insects’ soil and location preferences, and a concerted effort to destroy their nests.

Lawn Care and Ant Hills

The mounds and hills formed by ant colonies are not the only issue with these fascinating insects. Many species also have an interest in ranching, and will “farm” aphids and mealybugs, protecting them and assisting their daily needs in order to keep a local source of honeydew.

Honeydew is the substance secreted by aphids and mealybugs and is something of a delicacy to ants. Having a colony of farming ants can mean real trouble for your veggies and ornamental plants, the food of choice for mealybugs and aphids. Controlling ants in the lawn is a good way to minimize the population of these pest insects.

Ants prefer dry, well-drained soil in an undisturbed low traffic area. Lawn dwelling ants are generally not an issue because these are not the stinging sort but some species have a habit of undermining grass roots and can cause large dead patches in the lawn.

Another issue is ant hills in grass, which can become large and pose a tripping hazard and make mowing difficult. For low populations, raking will be a regular maintenance for lawn care and ant hills. Simply raking out the hills will scatter the population and reduce hardened mounds from occurring. This simple step is effective if done on a weekly basis from fall to summer.

How to Control Ants in Lawns Naturally

Since ants form social communities, which can live in an area just a few inches (8 cm.) wide or a space many feet across, ant populations and their associated problems will vary. If you have one of the huge groups entrenched in your lawn, steps need to be taken to eradicate the insects.

Killing ants in your lawn is tricky business because children and pets use the area for play and traversing the garden. You can try a 3 percent solution of dish soap with water as a spray for an infested area.

Other possible treatments include diatomaceous earth or a borax and sugar water spray. Unless the infestation is particularly troublesome, the best remedy is to live with these beneficial insects. Most ants eat the larvae of lawn pests that they find amongst the roots of the grass. This is a win-win for the grass lover.

Killing Ants in Your Lawn with Chemicals

Spot control is the best method for killing ants. They tend to concentrate in a small area and spot application isolates the chemical zone and minimizes damage to beneficial insects who also call the grass home.

Use either a spray or granular form. Locate the nest and apply the chemical as indicated on the label. Granular forms require activation with water, so it is best to irrigate after applying the chemical. In all cases, wait until a treated area has dried before allowing children and pets into the toxic zone.

Ants can be a blessing and a curse, so consider the severity of the problem before resorting to chemical treatments. Their activity is also a natural pest control and can increase the tilth of soil, acting as wild aerators to loosen the dirt around roots and enhance growth.

This article was last updated on 07/19/21