How to Kill Ants in Lawn: 17 Effective Methods!

Certain species of ants are quite destructive in nature, and they can sometimes ruin your beautiful lawn by constructing ant hills and ant mounds in no time. Most ants usually won’t kill your lawn, but they can make it incredibly uncomfortable to walk on and enjoy. So, let’s find out how to kill ants in your lawn.

If you are looking for the best natural and artificial ways to exterminate ants, you have come to the right place. Here, we have explained several effective methods for killing ants and preventing their growth.

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What Is an Ant Colony?

An ant colony is a basic unit of the lifecycle of ants. It consists of one or more queen ants and mostly worker ants or drones.

A queen ant forms a colony after taking a mating flight. Many male and female ants take mating flights. Male ants die after mating and female ants that survive during the flight bite off their wings and find suitable locations such as the edges of the garden to start dwelling in soil.

She then lays eggs and takes care of the growing larvae. These larvae transform into wingless workers that work to establish ant nests. A queen can leave the nest to form a new nest. When she does that, she takes some worker ants that carry her larvae.

An ant colony can have thousands of ants. It is a complicated structure consisting of multiple underground rooms such as nursery rooms, storage rooms, farming rooms, etc. You may see only one or a few entry points of a nest, but it is quite large under the ground.

Common Types of Ants Present in Lawns

The world has more than 10,000 ant species. These species are often grouped into three common types of ant that exist in lawns. Let’s understand each type to help you recognize which type of ant your lawn has.

Army Ants

Army ants have mostly aggressive ant species that can travel even through dense forests to find food. They commonly exist in the Southern United States. They can eat food sources from other animals like reptiles, birds, etc.

Army ants are super-aggressive and can even kill small-sized animals and birds such as cats, dogs, pigs, and chickens. They are larger compared to the other types of ants. They also have hooks and stringers.

Do They Damage the Lawn?

Army ants do not create mounds and nests. Instead, they move in large colonies and destroy foliage and vegetation along the way. Their colonies consist of thousands of ants.

Army ants are also known for their painful bites. They will bite anything that comes in their way. If you have army ants on your lawn, then your kids and pets are at risk of having an allergic reaction to army ants’ bites.

Farming Ants

Farming ants secrete a chemical compound that attracts insects present in their surroundings. When an insect arrives on sight, farming ants attack it and later feed on it. Aphid is a common example of an insect that often becomes a victim of farming ants.

Farming ants consist of several ant species. They are small in size like regular ants. They usually exist in three common colors, which are brown, black, and red.

Do They Damage the Lawn?

Farming ants do not directly damage your lawn. They bring in other insects like aphids which can then harm the lawn. Aphids eat young stems, buds, and leaves, which hinders their growth and may even cause plant death. Aphids are also known for transferring diseases among certain plant species.  

Field Ants

As the name suggests, field ants are the type of ants that like living on lands, lawns, and gardens. These are the ants in your lawn that you see regularly. Their color can be black, brown, or red, based on the ant species.

Do They Damage the Lawn?

Field ants create mounds where they live and store food. They first dig soil and create holes underground. Then they start pushing soil through the hole, which forms visible ant mounds.

These mounds look ugly and prevent your lawn grass from growing properly. They also destroy the grassroots; as a result, the grass around the mounds starts dying. It creates brown spots on the lawn. Ant mounds can also cause trouble by sticking to your lawnmower when you run the machine.

Ant Infestation and Lawn Health

Ant colonies usually form on lawns that are in poor conditions and have patchy areas. Ants usually like to live in dried-out soil.

So, to get rid of ants, it is best to first make your lawn healthier by fertilizing it, mowing it regularly, watering it on time, and getting rid of existing pests. As soon as your lawn develops healthy grass and other vegetation, ants will typically go elsewhere in search of a suitable place.

Natural Methods to Kill Ants in Lawn

It can be really difficult to kill ants on the lawn without killing grass and other plants. Home remedies and natural methods are the best ways to kill the ants without damaging the lawn.

You may find these methods slower compared to the artificial methods, but they are best to protect your lawn during ant extermination.

If you have an ant problem in your lawn, below are the best methods you can use to get rid of ant infestations.

Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth

We love this option, and it is the most effective natural solution to getting rid of ants in your lawn.

Diatomaceous earth is a natural insecticide made up of algae remains. Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder-like substance obtained from the remains of diatoms (a form of algae found in water bodies).

It is insecticidal but harmless to plants since it is obtained from plant-like algae. It contains a variety of minerals that are toxic to ants.

Sprinkle this white powder all over the lawn. Ants will get attracted to it and come out of their nests to eat. They will also take it back to store in their nests. Diatomaceous earth will slowly kill ants from the inside. As it has minerals and adds nutrients to the soil, it is considered good for the healthy growth of grass.  

Make sure you buy the harmless food-grade diatomaceous earth, and not the other kind that can kill grass as well. Try this great brand at a great price: HARRIS Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade.

Boiling Water

Boiling water is one of the traditional methods people use for killing ants. Locate all ant mounds on your lawn and start pouring boiling water through holes. It will instantly kill the entire colony present under the ground.

Some ant nests can be really large, and you may have to pour boiling water several times to kill ants.

Using boiling water is an effective way of killing ants, but it may make the affected area of your lawn soggy. Try to limit the boiling water to the location with the ant mound.

Soap and Water Solution

The soap and water solution is one of the best homemade ant killers. It is an affordable and easy-to-perform method.

Get eco-friendly soap that is safer for grass and mix it well in water to reduce its effect on grass. Pour the solution into a spray bottle. You can also use hot water to make the solution more effective.

Spray it on ant trails present on the surface of your lawn. Find ant hills and pour the solution into it. The active ingredient present in soap will suffocate ants, and they will start dying soon. You can also use insecticidal soap to get results faster.

Peppermint

People grow peppermint in their gardens and laws to repel ants because it is a natural ant repellent. Why do ants hate it? It is simply because of its fragrance.

Ants do not like any strong smell. So, when you grow a peppermint plant in your garden or lawn, ants naturally do not enter the area due to the strong smell of the plant.

You can also use peppermint essential oil. Soak cotton balls with peppermint oil and place them in areas where you find ant colonies. Repeat the process (and annoy ants as much as you can). They will soon leave your lawn and look for an area that is peppermint-free.

Ground Cinnamon

Like peppermint, cinnamon also has a strong smell. So, you can use it to kill or repel ants. Get ground cinnamon and sprinkle it in different areas in your lawn, particularly near ants.

Find ant hills and sprinkle ground cinnamon through anthill openings. It will suffocate ants, and they will die eventually.

You can also use cinnamon essential oil. Add a few drops of this oil to the water. Pour oil-mixed water in a spray bottle and start scattering it throughout the garden to target all ants residing in your lawn.

Make sure you place the bottle of cinnamon essential oil out of the reach of your pets.

White Vinegar

Make a solution of water and white vinegar or apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray it directly on the ant trails, anthills, and ant mounds to kill ants. The acidic pH of vinegar will destroy the ants’ exoskeleton, which will cause their death.

Olive Oil

Another best method of killing ants is creating a solution of olive oil, dishwasher, and water in a spray bottle and then spraying it wherever you find ant colonies or ant trails. This solution will kill ants by going through their exoskeleton.

You may see results after several attempts. Therefore, do not stop spraying this natural plant killer until you notice a decline in the ant population in your lawn.

Sugar and Boric Acid Paste

In this method, you form a paste of sugar and boric acid. Then you spread it around ant colonies throughout your lawn. Be careful not to place it on grass as it can damage it.

Sugar will attract ants from all over the lawn. Ants will eat some and then take some for their queen to feast upon. Soon boric acid will start showing its effects, and ants that ate the paste will eventually start dying.

With this method, you need to add an appropriate amount of boric acid. It should not be too little that no ants die. But it should not be so much that the first ant dies on the spot after eating it. If the ants die too quickly, they will not be able to take it to their nest and kill the colony.  

Chili Pepper

Chili pepper is a natural ant repellent. Ants hate its strong smell. So, sprinkle it around your lawn to prevent ants from entering it. You can also sprinkle it in ant mounds. It will make ants come out of their nests and go far away to avoid the smell.

Another method of using chili pepper is to mix it in water in a spray bottle and sprinkle it on areas where you find ants in abundance. Spray the solution regularly to make ants leave your lawn permanently.

Citrus Oil

Citrus oils, including lemon and orange, are used in insecticides due to their ability to kill ants. You can also create your homemade insecticidal solution by mixing ¾ cup of citrus oil, 1 tablespoon of the liquid dishwasher, and 1 tablespoon of molasses in 1 gallon water.

Pour this solution into a spray bottle and sprinkle it on plants and every place that you want to see ant-free. Also, pour some in anthills or ant mounds. Ants will suffocate and die slowly. If you cannot buy citrus oil from the market, you can make one at home.

Boil orange peels in water for 15 minutes. Turn the stove off after 15 minutes and let the water cool down. Now put orange peel and water in a food processor and make a slurry of orange peel. Place it in different locations on your lawn to make, particularly in anthills.

Aphid Eradication

Aphid is a common garden insect. It secretes a sweet substance called honeydew. Ants like honeydew and consume it for food. If you remove aphids from your lawn, there will be no honeydew for ants to feed on.

As a result, they may start moving to another area where they can easily have abundant food, including honeydew. While this method does not kill ants directly, it may force them to leave your lawn.

Baking Powder and Sugar

This method is similar to the “sugar and boric acid paste” method. You can use baking powder instead of boric acid if you do not want to use it. Again, make a paste of baking soda and sugar. Place it around ant mounts. The sweetness of sugar will make ants eat this toxic paste. Some will take it to their storage in the nest, too. Ants will start dying after ingesting baking powder along with sugar.

Brewed Coffee Grounds

Many people consume coffee daily and throw brewed coffee grounds, considering it useless. What if we tell you that you can use it against ants? Yes, that is true. Ants do not like the sharp smell of brewed coffee grounds.

So when you sprinkle it on your lawn, ants leave their nests and go far away to avoid the bitter smell of coffee grounds. This method will not kill ants, but it will certainly help you get rid of ants on your lawn.  

Artificial Methods to Kill Ants in Lawn

In artificial methods, man-made chemicals are used to exterminate ants. These chemicals may be toxic for humans and pets. Check the product description carefully before buying any chemicals for artificial methods. The common methods used to kill ants in your lawn are described below.

Ant Killer Spray

Ant killer spray is a liquid ant poison. Spray it on areas like ant trails, ant mounds, and anthills. Its toxic ingredients will eventually make ants die.

Be careful while using this spray. Do not let your kids and pets come into the lawn after spraying this ant poison. They may accidentally engulf sprayed grass and experience adverse effects of toxins.

Lawn insect spray is fast-acting and is easy to use. This kills ants almost instantly.

This product specifically is a great choice for those that need a lawn insect spray: Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray.

Ant Killer Granules

Ant killer granules are small-sized ball-like structures. You can spread them in your lawn or put some near an ant hill.

These poisonous granules will exterminate ants in one day or so. They will even kill all types of ants (e.g. fire ants) and other types of unwanted insects. Again, keep your pets and kids away from the lawn if you have sprinkled these granules on the soil.

Here is a great option that is an incredible “bang for your buck”: Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer For Lawns Granules.

Ant Bait Stations

Ant baits are commonly used to kill ants. You can insert ant baits in different locations of your lawn. Ants will get attracted to the toxic chemical present in ant bait. They will come to feed on it and take a little back to their nest. All ants will start dying after ingesting the toxin.

You can buy and set up several ant bait stations, depending on the size of your lawn. Then place it in different parts to kill ants and prevent the formation of their colonies.

Note: Not all ant bait is safe for your lawn and garden. Look for ant baits that contain the active ingredient spinosad.

The active ingredient, spinosad, is safe for your garden but is strong enough to kill the entire ant colony completely in a few days.

This product specifically is a great choice: Fertilome Come and Get It Fire Ant Killer.

Professional Ant Exterminator

If you think you cannot handle ant infestations on your lawn and need expert pest control help, you should try hiring a professional ant exterminator.

They will first inspect your lawn and determine which specific species of ants are populated here. After that, they will design a suitable ant eradication procedure.

They will use the right method and chemicals that will kill ants in less time and still keep your lawn healthy. You can start your search for a professional ant exterminator on the internet.

Related Questions

Can Ants Damage My Lawn Directly?

Yes, ants can damage your lawn directly. They start digging deep holes in lawn soil and then build ant hills or ant mounds. It reduces the beauty of your lawns. Ant mounds may also cause trouble during lawn mowing. That is why you should get rid of ants and enjoy a beautiful garden for yourself.

The larger your backyard and lawn, the more space ants have to form a colony.

Why Do Ants Exist Mostly on Plant Stems?

Most ants that you see on stems go there to fetch a sugary substance called honeydew. Aphids secrete this substance on stems.

Ants love honeydew, so they eat it and collect it to store for later use. They also try to protect aphids from predators to ensure they keep getting a constant supply of honeydew.

What Makes Ants Social Insects?

Ants are called social insects because they form large colonies and nests to live together. Each colony consists of several worker ants, drones, and one or more queen ants.

Worker ants collect food and bring it to their nests to store for later use and to feed the queen. Due to this behavior, ants are called social insects.

What Is the Lifespan of An Ant Nest?

An ant nest has a long lifespan as it can exist for years or even decades if you do not remove it on your own.

Worker ants keep excavating the ground and digging it deeper. They also keep providing food to the queen who takes care of larvae which causes an increase in the population of your lawn ants.

The Bottom Line: How to Kill Ants in Lawn

Ants can damage grass that took you years to grow to construct a beautiful lawn. It is significant to exterminate them before they dig more soil and form more nests in your lawn.

All the methods described above are proven effective for killing ants without damaging the lawn. So, use any of them and make your lawn insect-free once again!

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