Ants are one of the most common pests in Florida yards. The state is home to 231 species of ants (the most of any eastern state), including 65 exotic ant species (by far the most in the U.S.). These little critters’ nests can be difficult to track down. Not to mention,the insects themselves are at best a nuisance, and at worst can be destructive to your home and yard.
If you suspect you have a problem with ants in your Florida yard, there are steps you can take to send them marching away. Read on to learn the best practices for keeping ants out of your yard for good.
Ants can be a nuisance when they invade your yard and start building hills. While ants play an important role in the ecosystem, an infestation can quickly get out of hand Getting rid of ants in your yard takes patience and persistence, but is doable without resorting to harsh chemical pesticides This article will explore natural remedies, prevention methods, and professional treatment options for banishing ants from your outdoor space.
Why Ants Are in Your Yard
Ants choose to nest in yards for several key reasons:
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Moisture – Ant colonies need water to survive. Any damp areas, leaks, standing water, condensation, or soggy soil attracts them.
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Food – Ants feed on sugary substances like plant sap, fruit, and even juices that leak from your trash cans. They also eat insects that secrete “honeydew.”
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Shelter – Mulch, landscaping rocks, wood piles, and debris offer shelter for ants to build nests.
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Warmth – Ants prefer warmer microclimates and are active when soil temperatures reach 50-100°F.
Dangers of an Ant Infestation
At first glance ants may not seem like a big deal. But a large colony can cause surprising damage:
- Smothering grass and plants with large nests
- Killing trees and shrubs by chewing on trunks/stems
- Spreading quickly and establishing multiple satellite colonies
- Indoors, ants chew through wood and can compromise structures
- Biting or stinging (some species like fire ants)
Left unchecked, a minor ant problem will likely grow into a headache. It’s best to take action at the first sign of an infestation.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ants
Thankfully there are several natural DIY remedies that can get rid of ants without using harsh toxins:
Boiling Water
Pouring boiling water directly onto ant hills kills ants on contact through thermal shock. This method destroys around 60% of the colony. Repeat as needed.
Downsides – Can damage surrounding grass and plants, doesn’t kill the queen ant deep inside nest.
Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle this powder around ant trails and nests. It kills ants by absorbing oils and causing dehydration. It’s non-toxic but reapply after rain.
Downsides – Must keep dry to work, doesn’t affect ants that don’t contact it directly.
Borax Ant Baits
Mix borax powder with something sweet like sugar water or honey to attract worker ants. The borax poisons ants and baits can wipe out whole colonies. Use bait traps safely away from kids and pets.
Downsides – Borax is toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Can irritate skin. Kills nearby plants.
Soap Spray
Mix 2 oz dish soap per quart of water and spray directly onto ants. Soap destroys their protective outer layer and suffocates them. Also masks ant pheromone trails.
Downsides – Can harm plants, doesn’t penetrate nest to kill queen.
Vinegar
Equal parts vinegar and water makes a solution that can repel and kill ants. Spray on and around nests or soak cotton balls and place near ant trails. Vinegar disrupts ants’ scent communication.
Downsides – Has a strong odor, repeated application usually needed.
Preventing Future Ant Invasions
Ant prevention is the best medicine. Stop ants before they gain a foothold by:
- Eliminating standing water and fixing irrigation leaks
- Moving trash/compost bins away from the house
- Clearing dead branches, mulch, and debris that offer shelter
- Sealing cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation
- Cleaning up spilled foods immediately
- Spreading diatomaceous earth preventively around the yard
Maintaining a healthy, thick lawn also deters ants who prefer bare patches of dirt. Invest in regular mowing, fertilizing, aerating, and weed control. Strong grass roots make it harder for ants to dig nests.
When to Call A Professional Exterminator
If DIY remedies haven’t resolved an ant problem, don’t wait – contact a professional exterminator right away. Telltale signs your ant issue requires expert treatment:
- Hills reappear shortly after removing them
- More and more hills pop up around the yard
- You find ants crawling inside the house
- Stinging and biting ants like fire ants are present
- Ants damage plants, trees, wooden structures in the yard
A qualified exterminator has the tools and knowledge to fully assess the scope of infestation. They can track down the colony, destroy the nest and queen ant, and recommend customized solutions to prevent recurrence. Though more costly upfront than DIY methods, professional ant control saves time, frustration, and money over continually fighting a losing battle.
Types of Ants Commonly Found Outdoors
There are hundreds of ant species, but some frequently become nuisance pests in yards:
Carpenter Ants
Appearance: Large, black ants up to 1/2″ long
Behavior: Nest in wood including trees, stumps, logs. Can severely damage wooden structures while excavating nests.
Fire Ants
Appearance: Coppery brown head and body with darker abdomen. Produce painful stings.
Behavior: Build mounds in open, sunny areas. Aggressive defenders of nests.
Argentine Ants
Appearance: Small, light to dark brown ants around 1/8″ long.
Behavior: Forage in trails. Often invade homes. Don’t sting but can contaminate food.
Odorous House Ants
Appearance: Brown to black, about 1/8″ long. Emit a coconut-like smell if crushed.
Behavior: Prefer sweets and proteins. Build nests in mulch, under rocks or decaying wood. Invade structures.
Pavement Ants
Appearance: Black to light brown with pale legs, around 1/16″ – 1/8″ long.
Behavior: Nest under stones, pavement, roadsides, sidewalk cracks. Trail along foundations into buildings seeking food.
When Ants Can Be Beneficial
Ants aerate soil, distribute seeds, prey on pests, and pollinate some plants. A light ant presence can indicate a healthy local ecosystem. But large infestations upset nature’s balance.
You may decide to simply repel ants away from your living space vs. exterminating them completely. Natural repellents like vinegar, citrus peels, coffee grounds, and spices like cinnamon are gentler options.
Overall, assess how disruptive ants are to your yard. A few sporadic ants likely don’t require action. Significant nests and trails call for treatment to avoid destruction. With persistence and the right remedy for your situation, you can reclaim your yard from a debilitating ant invasion.
How Can Ants Damage Your Yard?
While ants are typically harmless to humans and even act as beneficial insects to the local ecosystem, there are certain cases in which they can be destructive to your garden or lawn.
For instance, not only are ant hills an unsightly nuisance, large ones can also smother grass.
Ants that burrow underground may disturb your plants’ roots, and ants that burrow in wood (i.e. carpenter ants) can cause structural damage to your home, porch/deck, trees, or firewood supply. Even ants of other species chewing on a plant’s stem or trunk in search of sap can end up killing plants or trees.
Moreover, ants that eat honeydew may protect other insects that secrete it, such as aphids, which are parasites to a variety of plants.
How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Yard
If you’ve noticed an ant problem in your yard, don’t fret—there are a variety of DIY solutions that will drive away and/or kill ants. Below is a breakdown of your options and how they work.
Boiling water is one of the most common organic ant killers. Pouring 2-3 gallons of boiling water on an ant mound will kill about 60% of ants (the remaining 40% have a chance to scatter in a timely manner).
Be warned that extremely hot water may kill the surrounding vegetation in your yard as well. Boiling water is a safe and effective method of killing a large number of ants immediately, and can seep into the ant colony below the mound (which is often much larger—the ant hill is only the tip of the iceberg).
Diatomaceous earth is a dusty powder made from fossilized algae. It’s virtually non-toxic to humans and not poisonous when eaten by insects, but rather works by absorbing oils and fats from the cuticles of ants’ exoskeletons, causing them to dry out and die.
The sharp edges of each granule are abrasive to exoskeletons, which speeds up the process, creating a “death by a thousand cuts.” Diatomaceous earth is also a long-lasting solution—it’s effective as long as it’s kept dry and not disturbed.
Borax, or sodium tetraborate, is a powdery white substance made up of sodium, oxygen, and borate (its more processed form with other minerals added is called boric acid). Borax is toxic to ants and kills them by disrupting their digestive systems.
When a worker ant who’s left the colony to forage for food comes across borax, they’ll bring it “home” with them and it may kill more ants or even the entire colony (for this reason, be sure to adjust how much borax you use according to the estimated size of the colony).
However, ants are unlikely to spring for borax alone as a food option. This is why it’s often mixed with sugar and water to create an ant bait solution. If you use this borax solution in bait stations around your house, be sure to strategically place them where ants will find them but your pets won’t.
Vinegar is a common natural remedy for ant invasions. Simply mix equal parts of water and vinegar (any vinegar you have on hand, apple cider vinegar or white vinegar will do), in a spray bottle and spray it directly on ants when you spot them.
You can also spray this solution on ant hangouts in your home or yard, or in places where you keep your food as an ant repellent (ants also hate the strong scent of vinegar). Try placing a vinegar-soaked cotton ball near an ant nest to drive ants from the area.
How to Get Rid of Ants in Yard or Driveway
FAQ
What is the fastest way to get rid of ants in the yard?
Boiling water is a safe and effective method of killing a large number of ants immediately, and can seep into the ant colony below the mound (which is often …Nov 25, 2023
Why do I have so many ants in my yard?
Anything from leaky pipes, birdbaths, ripped trash bags, and discarded food will cause ants to investigate.Sep 16, 2022
What is the best homemade outdoor ant killer?
Borax & Sugar – One easy and effective way to kill ants at home is with a mixture of borax and sugar.
How do I keep ants away permanently?
Essential Oils: Ants dislike certain essential oils, such as peppermint, tea tree, and citrus oils. Mix a few drops with water and spray around entry points. You can also soak cotton balls in the oils and place them near ant trails. Lemon Juice: Similar to vinegar, lemon juice can disrupt ant trails.
How do you get rid of ants naturally?
Soap and water are a tried-and-true natural way to get rid of ants. You can make soapy water with several recipes. Some recipes require baking soda, vinegar, apple cider, and peppermint oil. However, tap water and eco-friendly soap work just fine on ants. To make a 2% insecticide spray, add one spoonful of soap and a quarter gallon of water.
What should one do if a fire ant bites them?
Fire ant bites can cause local inflammation over the skin which can be painful. It can be conservatively managed by applying ice packs after washing the skin with soap and water. Oral medications can be taken to help reduce inflammation faster and prevent risk of allergic reaction.
How do you kill ants outside?
To kill ants outside, first locate the anthill where the ants are coming from. Then, pour boiling water directly into the anthill to kill the colony. Alternatively, mix 4 parts water with 1 part dish soap and pour the mixture in and around any anthills you find. Another option is to spread diatomaceous earth over the surface of your lawn.
How do I get rid of fire ants in my backyard?
Doing this is a great way to get swarmed, especially when dealing with fire ants. Unfortunately, to get rid of an ant nest in your backyard you’ll need to resort to some dirtier tactics. “The easiest of these is to mix three parts boiling water to one part dish soap.
How do I prevent ant poisoning in my yard?
Let pesticides dry for at least 1 hour before letting pets or children in the yard. Most ant poisons are toxic to humans and animals. Avoid using them in the presence of children or pets. Wear gloves and a face mask to prevent skin contact. This article was co-authored by Kevin Carrillo and by wikiHow staff writer, Devin McSween.
How do you keep ants out of your home?
Rub essential oils on any points of entry to keep ants out. Essential oils like peppermint, cedar, eucalyptus, clove, and citrus help prevent more ants from coming inside. Simply soak a cotton ball in the oil of your choice and apply it around areas where ants enter your home.