How to Get Rid of Ants Nests in a Lawn?

Ants are very common in your garden and here we will answer how to get rid of ants nests in a lawn. Ants are ecologically beneficial in many ways but their sting hurts. The damage that an ant can make is more powerful than you might think. A whole colony of ants can take over your yard when you don’t remove them.

Ants possess a serious threat to humans and plants and even other living things. Some types of ants can lead humans to death, destroy plants and even eat other baby animals.

You are in the right place to find a way to get rid of ants and their hill from your beautiful yard.

How to get rid of Ants Nests in a Lawn?

Soil and ants both help each other in their ways. Soil helps ants by giving them a home to live and feed on the dead and decayed. Ants help the soil by increasing its fertility and providing good aeration and nutrients to the soil. They also do pest control by eliminating small insects.

Ants being the social insect and staying in groups affect the soil directly and indirectly despite their benefits. They build a nest in or under lawns, posing a threat to gardeners. They make the lawn dirty with their ant hills and destroy the grass in the soil. Ants dig deeply and feed on the roots as well as the seedling making the soil not suitable for cultivation. 

Why do I have so many Ant Hills in my Yard?

You have so many ants in the yard, you might be giving them all they want, water, food, and place.

You might be giving them the water source from leaky pipes. Keeping a check on stagnant water helps much.  Ants have scents to find a water source. With the water and healthy soil, you make a perfect place for the ants.

Ants thrive on sandy or dry soil where moisture won’t hold much. If your soil is a bit dry or patchy, they love to live in it. The looser the soil, the greater ants come into the soil.

 The food comes from the plants or grass on the lawn. They munch mostly on everything fungus, insects, plants, animals, vegetables, and pulses. These things make your lawn the perfect target to live. 

Facts on fire ants(USDA)

• Two species of Imported Fire Ants (IFA) were introduced into the United States from South America in Alabama.
•  The black imported fire ant arrived around 1918 and the red ants in the late 1930s.
• A single fire ant can sting its target repeatedly. Young and newborn animals are especially susceptible to the sting’s venom. 
• These fire ants can damage the environment by displacing native ant species and reducing food sources for wildlife.

Should you dig up Ant Hills?

No, unless their nest is an issue. This is one of the solutions to get rid of the ant hill from your yard. But this might not be the best way to remove the ants. Use a rake, get rid of an ant hill, and flatten it out. So the ants won’t get back inside. Removing 3 feet of soil in the ground below the ant hill might also be a good solution to remove the ants. They might think the land is unsafe for them. This solution is best when you want to opt-out of a chemical-free solution. Protect yourself when manually removing by using gloves, and wear long sleeves, and closed shoes to avoid ant bites.

Can you wash away an Ant Hill?

Yes, you can if you have sufficient water. It is the lazy way to get rid of an ant hill. Washing away might be a temporary solution to get rid of the ants. If the ant hill is small, then this is the best way.

Pouring hot water in the ant hill works if there is a small ant hill rather than a tunnel colony.

Adding vinegar to water and spraying it might help as ants hate vinegar. This might help soil health and be used only if there are no plants on the lawn.     

Pressured hose water poured into the soil to remove the ant might also be the way to remove them.

Did you know?

Ants can be found in every single continent except Antarctica.

Ants are the longest-living insects in the world.

How long does an Ant Hill last?

Ant hills can last for a pretty long time. This might scare you as ant hills last for about 25 years and more if built well. Ants’ life span varies according to the type of ant. Most of the ants live from about 4 years to 15 years. But the ant hill with no disturbance and proper food source lasts twice more than the lifespan of the ants.

Identifying the ants with their ant hills

The location of the anthill may help find the ant type,

• Carpenter ants, if found near wood and most of no ant hill but holes. Now you got the answer to your prolonged question of seeing wood dust in your yard.
• Acrobat ants, if they form in the wood or around.
• Pharaoh ants, if found inside the buildings.
• House ants make anthills in the yard and debris. They stay close to food sources too. They do build nests inside the home and often on carpets and beds.

According to the EPA, When fire ants bite, they inject formic acid into the skin, which can cause welts and allergic reactions, and results in white pustules that often last several days.

Does soapy water kill ant hills?

Yes, soapy water kills ant hills to some extent. Using soapy water kills ants immediately. The soap makes the ant die out of dehydration.

This method is to be used with caution as it can harm the grass in the soil. Diluting the dish soap with room temperature water and using it directly into the hill and holes make it hard for ants to live. Choosing eco-friendly matters.

Adding oil to the mixture of dish soap and water makes it more effective. Spraying on an anthill and pouring on the holes make a clean wipe of soil. Repeat pouring the water solution when needed.

Soap can damage plants, so toe it with caution when applying it to the lawn.

How do I permanently get rid of an ant hill?

There are both natural and chemical ways of getting rid of an ant hill. We know about the wash-out, vinegar, and soapy way to remove the hill. The other ways are,

Natural way

• Bait can be made to attract ants and kill them.
• As ants can’t tolerate spice, Using chili makes the ant run away from the hill instantly.
• Using Diatomaceous earth, a naturally occurring rock broke down to powder. This is the best natural way to get rid of an ant hill permanently. They kill any insect with no skeleton. They are safe for humans and soil. The powder is thrown all over the soil as prevention.
• Using neem or cornmeal won’t work as ants feed on those.

Chemical way

• Choosing a product from the market that specifically kills the ants.
• Use a killer spray product, if there are lesser ants.
• Use the granules to kill ants, mix them with water and pour it on the colony.
• Adding baits with chemicals and making the whole colony infected die.

To prevent them from coming back, keep a check on the ant hills.

Conclusion

Ants can be a blessing and a curse at times. Despite knowing the ways to get rid of ants and techniques to prevent them, you might never completely take them off your lawn. The soil is home to ants and you having healthy soil and lawn might bring them back. 

But with the right approach, you can control the amount and prevent the disaster of losing your plants.

If you feel you can’t tackle this problem, consult a professional exterminator to prevent the ant problems.

FAQs

1. What are ant houses called?

Ant houses are called ant hills.

2. Are ant bites dangerous?

Most house ant bites are not dangerous whereas fire ant bites are harmful. A fire ant bite can lead to human death.