How to Get Rid of Ants in Lawn Without Killing Grass

Having ants in your yard is annoying since they always seem to roam around your yard. Lawns in homes are not just spots where ants can nest, but such places are among their favorite ones.

In this guide, you will learn about eliminating an ant infestation without harming your grass. Moreover, you will know about the most common species of ants and what attracts them to your lawn. Other than that, we will also tell you the best options to control them in your lawn.

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Why Ants Get Into Lawn

Ants are very practical creatures. They choose a location based on food availability, moisture, and safety. Lawn areas provide them with damp spots, decaying plant matter, and easily accessible food. Any leaking pipes, gleaned dehumidifiers, or rain-collection barrels can attract such insects into your lawn.

Some ants are attracted to sweet things, like nectar from plants or sugary leftovers from the outdoor trash bins. Honeydew also attracts ants, which are an excretion of small bugs like aphids. When these insects feed on your plants, they excrete this sticky substance that ants love.

Most Common Ants You May See in Your Lawn

Several species of ants may invade your yard. Some of the most common ones are:

• Sugar Ants: These tiny fellows like anything sweet. They also get into your lawns if there is any human food or spilled soda.
• Carpenter Ants: The specialty of such ants is to dig into any wood. If they invade your lawn, they may destroy trees and wooden frameworks.
• Ghost Ants: They are very tiny in size and almost transparent. You can often find them around sugary spots.
• Acrobat Ants: These ones are normally found near moist places and plants, but can bite when disturbed.
• Argentine Ants: They build giant colonies and monopolize the food resources.
• Pavement Ants: These ones are experts in building mounds in cracks or along the edges of pavements.
• Pharaoh Ants: Being small and light-colored, they usually nest indoors but may wander on your lawn as well.

Are Ants Beneficial for Grass in a Lawn?

Surprisingly, ants aren’t all that bad, there are several hidden benefits of ants in the lawn. Some species of ants are even beneficial for the lawn. They break down dead insects, aerate the soil, and reduce the population of pests by consuming smaller bugs.

Ants help aerate the soil when they tunnel through it, allowing for easy water and nutrient movement to the grass’s root system. They also help in decomposing any decaying plant matter, turning it into enriched organic matter. Such activities are wonderful for the health of your lawn.

How Ants Damage Your Lawn

Even though ants can be beneficial to the lawn, they can sometimes create trouble. The biggest atrocity is their ant mounds that may bury your grass and make ugly bumps. The mounds will also make it very difficult to mow and weaken your lawn further.

Some kinds of ants cause damage to trees and wooden structures on your lawn. Carpenter ants create tunnels through wood, leaving sawdust trails and weakening the wood. Some ants may even chew on plant stems in search of sap, leading to the death of your plants.

How to Identify Ants in Your Lawn

Here’s a quick guide on identifying common lawn ants:

1. Check for Visible Mounds or Nests

Most ants build mounds or nests, which vary in size and shape according to their species. Fire ants build raised dome-shaped mounds. These mounds have no visible entrance and are formed under the surface. On the other hand, pavement ants often build nests in driveways along cracks rather than forming mounds.

2. Observe Ant Size and Color

Color and size can be good indicators to identify ants. Carpenter ants are typically large, black, or reddish-brown. Fire ants’ size ranges from small to large, and they typically have reddish or darker abdomens. Pavement ants are tiny, with brown or black color, with grooved bodies.

3. Notice Ant Behavior and Movement Patterns

Observe how ants walk and move around your lawn. Fire ants are aggressive and swarm quickly after stimulation. On the other hand,  sugar ants move in long, continuous lines marching toward sweet food sources. Pavement ants can be seen battling against other ants over territory.

4. Inspect for Damage to Grass or Soil

Certain ants do spoil your lawn. Such species include fire ants, which clear roots and cause dead patches. Mound-building ants are well known for damaging soils and making surface areas uneven. Some signs of their presence include dead patches of grass, exposed roots, and soil disturbance.

Do Ants Eat Grass in a Lawn?

No, ants don’t eat grass itself. They’re more interested in sugary substances and food crumbs left behind by humans or other insects. If you notice chewed-up grass blades, it’s likely caused by something else, not ants.

They are desert hunters rather than grass grazers. They’ll go after fallen fruit, nectar, and even decaying plant matter but leave the grass alone. While they may crawl over your lawn, they’re not the ones chewing it up.

Best Precautions to Kick Out Ants from Lawn

1. Outdoor Maintenance

Keep your lawn trimmed and remove dead trees or decaying plant matter. Clean up outdoor trash bins to reduce food sources. Fix any leaky pipes or water problems that create high moisture.

2. Natural Barriers

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth or soapy water along ant trails and entry points. These natural methods are safe for your grass but can disrupt ant colonies.

3. Plant Ant-Repellent Herbs

Mint, basil, and lavender can deter ants. Plant them around your yard to keep pests away.

Best Products to Use for Ants in Lawn

1. Diatomaceous Earth

This natural powder damages the ant exoskeleton and dehydrates them. Sprinkle it on ant mounds and nests to get rid of pests. This method is also best to use to eliminate ants in walls.

2. Ant Baits

Ant baits lure ants to carry poison back to their colonies. They work overtime to wipe out the whole colony.

3. Soapy Water Solution

Mix soap and water to spray directly on ant trails. It breaks down the ant’s exoskeleton and kills them on contact.

Conclusion

Getting rid of ants without harming your lawn requires a thoughtful approach. Keep your yard clean, reduce moisture, and use safe ant control methods. Choose natural products whenever possible and take steps to make your lawn less inviting to ants.

FAQs

1. How do I know if my lawn has an ant infestation?

Look for ant hills, trails, and telltale signs of nesting. You may also notice small bugs moving in and out of ant mounds.

2. Can ants actually help my lawn?

Yes, they can improve soil aeration and reduce pest populations. However, too many ants can cause damage.

3. What is the best natural ant killer for lawns?

Diatomaceous earth and soapy water are great natural options. They are effective and safe for your grass.

Call Safe Pest Sol for Ants in Lawn: Your Expert Pest Control!

Having ants in your lawn causes tons of trouble, like damaging plants. It is essential to have expert pest control by your side to defend against them. So, call us now and let us help you fix this problem!