Depending on the type of ant you have, they can pose a threat to your home’s stability and also be a risk to people with sensitive skin. Ants in your lawn can also eventually make their way indoors. If you want to learn how to get kill ants in your yard, this guide will teach you all you need to know and provide excellent natural remedies like vinegar and baking soda. Read on to discover the best ways to get rid of ants in your yard permanently.
Getting Rid Of Ants In Grass Naturally
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda/Baby Powder
- Boric Acid Traps
- Soapy Water
- Boiling Water
1. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
The best way to get rid of ants in grass naturally is to use diatomaceous earth. This is a special type of “dirt” made of microscopic seashells that have been pounded into a fine dust. DE is a unique pest killer because it cuts into insect exoskeletons and dries them out, killing them. It kills all insects, ants included.
Diatomaceous Earth is not a pesticide that bugs can grow immune to. It clogs their spiracles, also known as the parts that ants breathe through. Sprinkling some near hills, on your lawn, and around your home will get rid of most bugs.
2. White Vinegar
Another way to get rid of ants in your yard is to use white vinegar. When mixed with water, white vinegar turns into an acid that will eat away at ants’ exoskeletons. Their bodies won’t be able to handle the acidity of the vinegar. Using vinegar to kill ants in your yard is simple. You'll need to make a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water and pour it down anthills. Then spritz your lawn with it. This can be fairly rough on your lawn, unlike grass-nourishing DE, so you may want to use this carefully.
3. Baking Soda/Baby Powder
If you don’t have DE on hand, you can also kill ants in your yard with baking soda or baking powder. Baking soda and baby powder both have the fine texture you need to choke them out. It’ll clog their spiracles, killing them over the course of several days.
To use it, sprinkle it throughout your lawn, making a point of surrounding anthills in particular.
4. Boric Acid Traps
Borid acid traps are another way to get rid of ants. To use this ant killer:
- Mix a cup of water, ½ teaspoon of borax, and eight teaspoons of sugar.
- Wad up some paper (or grab cotton balls) and dip them in the solution.
- Place near anthills. The ants will grab the sugar content, not realizing it’s been dipped in poison.
Within a couple of days, you should notice a marked reduction in ant activity around your home. This trick works pretty well, but you may have to replace the cotton balls several times before all the ants are gone.
5. Soapy Water
Ants are surprisingly delicate, considering how quickly they can get into everything. If you just have dish soap and want to get rid of ants in your yard for good, mix a tablespoon of soap to a quart of water. Then, spray this mixture throughout your yard.
Soap kills ants. It’s the easiest way to make them go away.
6. Boiling Water
You can also use boiling water to kill ants in your yard. For this method to work effectively, you'll need to locate their anthill, and then pour boiling water over it. To effectively kill the ants you'll need at least 2 gallons of boiling water. This method isn't perfect though, so it's best to follow it up by pouring some soapy water over the anthill to ensure the ants don't return.
Tips For Keeping Ants Away From Your Home and Yard
Once you’ve killed off most of the ants, you’re going to make sure they understand that your home is not a place for them. This can be done through a number of simple steps. Here’s what you’re going to need to do:
1. Keep sugary foods and breadcrumbs away from your lawn
One of the best things you can do to get rid of ants from your yard is to eliminate food sources. Ants love sugary foods and breacrumbs, and that makes things like trash bins, compost piles, and similar away from your lawn. If you notice ant trails leading to one of these things, move it away or surround it with DE.
2. Spray cinnamon oil on your plants
Spraying cinnamon oil on your lawn plants will also keep ants out of your yard for good. A couple of drops of cinnamon oil in a spray bottle filled with water will be enough to deter ants and other pests from your plants. Ants hate the smell, and cinnamon will even go so far as to kill them.
3. Double down on pesticides
Using pesticides is another way to get rid of ants and prevent them from coming back. It's best to focus on areas that ants are most attracted to. This includes cutting off ants’ access to fruit gardens, making sure that they can’t get inside your home, and keeping them away from water sources. Like most other creatures, ants need water to survive.
4. Plant mint around your home
Mint, much like cinnamon, is a major deterrent for ants. Ants cannot stand the smell of this plant, even when it’s alive and growing. Adding some to the perimeter of your home will help prevent ants (and other pests) from making your home theirs.
5. Add small amounts of salt to areas prone to ants
Salt is a desiccant that dries out ants’ bodies, making it an effective killer. Since it can also harm plant life, use it in small measures in problem areas.
Getting Rid of Ants Bottom Line
If you are trying to find a way to get rid of ants for good, then you’re going to have to remember that it’s not going to be a one-time shot. While far more delicate than roaches or lantern moths, Ants are still resilient enough to require a heavy, multi-pronged effort to get rid of them.
No matter what method you use, removing ants from your yard is not going to be a one-day event. You will need to keep using the same pesticide, monitor the progress you’re seeing, and take measures to prevent them from coming back.