Ants in the Lawn

Discussion in 'Lawns' started by stony, Aug 12, 2017.

  1. stony

    stony Gardener

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    I have found a number of round soil patches in our lawn. Have wondered what has been causing it all this year. I now realise that they are all ant eruptions. The grass is killed in what looks like a female dog pee spot. We do not have a dog and gates stop any coming in.
    Anyone have any ideas on how to eradicate ants in a lawn?

    Thanks
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    Ant powder Stony
    However, I think they are attracted to dry areas.....
    Is your lawn dry? Try watering the affected areas
    Nematodes can be effective.....still time to use them.:)
     
  3. zilly

    zilly Gardener

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    I'm interested in this as we appear to have ants all over our garden, trying ant powder but can't do the whole garden. Any suggestions to get rid of the little blighters.
     
  4. Mark56

    Mark56 Super Gardener

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    They hate moisture, just keep watering the nests for a week, they'll move on. Powder is poisonous to wildlife/pets
     
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    • Radiation91

      Radiation91 Gardener

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      Predators! Not the invisible things that Arnold tried fighting. :heehee: Although they would make short work of the ants I think :biggrin: In this case, birds. Get birds in your garden by getting seeds and whatnot nearby and then they'll start spotting the ants and eating them too. Might work and if not then you've got wildlife in your garden to enjoy so it's not a complete loss.:redface:

      Some people say that salt water kills ants. I know that salt is supposed to kill plants but I've got a few reef aquarium friends that take their dirty salt water from their tanks and empty it onto their lawns. In low doses the grass thrives on it but I wouldn't want to test that on my lawn personally :th scifD36: :dunno: worth a thought I guess!
       
    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

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      Ants will be.....are...everywhere but I only control them if they threaten to come indoors or their nestbuilding affects roots of plants. A chemical then is best......what else in these circumstances?
      As I said before, watering is a deterrent esp on lawns.
      I would hesitate to use salt though.....it will spoil a lawn :noidea:
      Nematodes do work in lawns. I used them on a friend's lawn a couple of years ago but I think timing is important, viz., early to mid summer is best I think.
       
    • zilly

      zilly Gardener

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      We seem to have lots of red ants and they really bite, I was like a pin cushion the other week.​
       
    • Sandy Ground

      Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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      I try to avoid using any sort of chemicals where possible, so to get rid of ants I use used coffee grounds. It takes a few treatments, but certainly works. The ants die happy as well! :snorky:
       
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      • Verdun

        Verdun Passionate gardener

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        Don't use chemicals here generally but sometimes they are helpful......judicious use of them, for example, where Zilly is bitten by those red ants, can make a big difference to our quality of life and enable us to enjoy our gardens :)
         
      • Phil A

        Phil A Guest

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        Put a clay flower pot upside down over the nest, they'll sense the heat from the sun and move the nest up into it.

        When they have, slice a shovel under it and remove the whole nest to next doors lawn :)
         
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        • stony

          stony Gardener

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          We have watered the lawn at dry times but have been inundated recently. It doesn't seem to concern the ants.

          Not sure how to obtain nematodes. Are the ones that kill ants a special type?
           
        • stony

          stony Gardener

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          WE already have loads of birds of many types in our garden. WE feed them. It doesn't affect the ant population. The only bird that I have experienced anting is a Green Woodpecker and we do not get those.

          I used to be a very keen aquarist with lots of salt water. It is the last thing that I would put on a lawn unless I wanted to kill it.

          Wild life in our patch include frogs Hedgehogs and toads. Plus of course millions of ants.
           
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          • stony

            stony Gardener

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            When you slice the pot up, wont you leave a bare patch? That's what I am trying to avoid?
             
          • stony

            stony Gardener

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            I will look into the nematode approach. I guess that it will have to be for next year now.

            Thanks for all the suggestions and replies.
             
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            • Verdun

              Verdun Passionate gardener

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              Ha ha, the pot idea from Zigs reminded me..... the friend I used nematodes on her lawn for first decided to dig up a huge ant nest in the lawn. A massive great hole in the lawn and a wheelbarrow full of ant infested turf was transported elsewhere in her garden. The result? Ants returned to the exact spot. She then accepted nematodes and it solved the problem.
              :)
               
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