Nothing ruins warm-weather fun in your yard quite like an ant infestation. Not only do you worry about whether or not they’re going to make it into your home.
But there’s also the risk that you or other members of your family could suffer from painful bites.
Ant infestations are not always easy to get rid of which is why is so important to use the best ant killer for lawns so you can start enjoying the outdoors again.
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The Best Ant Killers For Outdoor Lawn Protection
Not all ant killers are the same. Believe it or not, they actually work in different ways. There are liquids and powders, baits, and those that kill instantly. Here are some of the best options available to take care of ants fast.
When you want to protect your lawn from the rage of fire ants, one of your options is the Ortho Fire Ant Killer. These are granules, which can destroy fire ant mounds in about 15 minutes. It also can protect your lawn for as much as six months.
Each of these packages weighs 11.5 pounds, and it covers a full 5,000 square feet of lawn space. These granules not only kill the fire ants at the source, but it also kills any fly-in queens for up to six months who might try to start a new colony once the original ants are killed.
You should apply this fire ant killer in the spring and during the late summer months to ensure year-round protection. Just keep in mind that this, alone, might not be enough to totally eradicate your fire ant colony.
This is the second step of the Ortho Fire Ant Killer Two Step System. You can enhance your protection by using the Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer 1. When used together, the system will keep your lawn clear of fire ants.
The first step in this system totally kills the mound, and the second step keeps the fire ants from coming back for more.
2. AMDRO Ant Block Home Perimeter Ant Bait Granules
The AMDRO Ant Block Home Perimeter Ant Bait Granules are the ultimate ant killer. Not only do these granules kill the ants, but they also bait the ants, so they come right to it. Simply place these granules outdoors, and your indoor ant problems will fade away.
This ant bait and killer eradicated the queen and the entire colony. It is formulated to bait and kill 25 different species of ants including carpenter ants and fire ants.
To use this ant bait and killer, you must shake the bait around the outside of your home. The bait now has created a barrier between the ants and your house. The ants eat the bait, and then it kills them before they can even get inside.
Each application lasts for a total of three months, and one of these bottles covers about 1080 linear feet. Most people can get about five applications out of each bottle, which gives you more than a year of protection.
To make sure that the ants that bring the bait into the colony get the job done, there is a delayed reaction. This means that the killing part of this bait doesn’t happen immediately, as it’s important to get the bait into the colony.
This ensures that this product is more effective than simple contact killing products. In this case, the poison is shared with the entire colony instead of killing on contact.
3. Control Solutions Martin’s Surrender Fire Ant Killer
Control Solutions Martin’s Surrender Fire Ant Killer is perfect for areas that are not used as cropland including around trees, lawns, ornamental plants, and gardens. You can also use this on turf to kill fire ants.
This product is unique, as it is a powder that is sprinkled on the mounds of fire ants. Then, when it gets wet, it begins to kill fire ants in only a matter of minutes. Within 48 hours, the colony will totally begin to die.
This powder comes in 1-pound cans, and it can treat up to 108 fire ant mounds. All it takes to destroy one of these mounds is 1-2 teaspoons of powder. Each application is long-lasting, and it can keep fire ants away for an entire season. It also works to kill harvester ants.
To get the most out of this solution, you should apply the powder to the mounds either in the morning or late in the evening, as this is when the fire ants are most active.
Keep in mind that this product doesn’t smell great, but it is highly reviewed, and it works well. Also, the active ingredient is Acephate 75%, which is not able to be used in certain states. Before buying this, make sure it is legal in the state you wish to use it.
4. Bayer Advanced Complete Ant Killer Plus
Bayer Advanced Complete Ant Killer Plus is a great option for those who not only need to get rid of the ants on their property, but also other pests. These include spiders, ticks, cockroaches, and fleas.
This insect killed has an easy-to-use shaker on the top of the container, which also serves as the applicator. This makes it easy for you to sprinkle the granules around the perimeter of your home.
Each package is 1.5 pounds, and it can treat up to 1,500 square feet of yard space. The formula, once it is applied, will treat the area for up to three months. In addition to spreading it around the perimeter of the home, you can also use it on ant mounds and wasp burrows.
The granules will kill insects on the surface, including ants, in less than 24 hours. It also, however, will kill insects that live below the surface. You can use this at any time of the year, but if you want to kill grubs, you should use it from May to July.
This formula is also safe for humans and pets. After sprinkling the granules, you must water them to activate them. Make sure to keep kids and pets away from the area until it’s completely dry.
5. BioAdvanced 502832 Fire Ant Killer Dust
BioAdvanced Fire Ant Killer is a dust that is easily sprinkled on fire ant mounds and eradicates the ants contained within. The best thing about this dust is that it takes care of the ants quickly and it doesn’t smell like other fire ant killers on the market.
This formula kills the queen, which can live for several years. If you try to destroy the mound without killing the queen, it can simply build a new mound and start laying eggs again. Within weeks, there could be hundreds of thousands of new ants.
In addition to killing the queen, this formula also destroys the mound. If you see small, unpacked mounds of dirt on your lawn, it is likely that there is a colony. If you disturb the mound before applying the formula, though, the queen might leave, so place this formula first.
The formula is guaranteed, and each container is enough to destroy more than 130 mounds. It is also very economical and affordable, and the dust starts working as soon as it is applied. To totally destroy the colony, it generally takes about three days.
It is very easy to use, as all you have to do is shake the formula on the mound. Then it does the work for you.
6. Amdro 100099072 Fire Ant Bait Granules
The Amdro Fire Ant Bait Granules is a two-step method to control the fire ants that have appeared on your property. Recommended by experts, this two-step approach is very effective, and it not only allows you to add bait across the yard, but also to treat the mounds.
The first step of lawn treatment is to spread the bait over the entire yard. This helps to kill the colony. Additionally, you will kill off any hidden mounds, as long as you make sure to spread it around.
The second step is to target the mounds that have become problems, by covering them with the Amdro Fire Ant Bait.
This is such an effective method when you want to kill off ants, as you don’t need to know where the nests are. Instead, the ants take the bait back to the colony. When it gets there, the other ants think its food and eat it.
Once the ants eat the food, the rest is shared with the rest of the colony, including the queen. Once all of the ants eat the bait, the entire mound is destroyed.
In general, it takes about a week for the queen to die after applying this formula, and the rest of the colony should be eradicated within two weeks.
7. Spectracide 53236 Fire Ant Killer Mound Destroyer Granules
Spectracide fire any shield mound destroyer granules work quickly to not only eradicate the fire ant colony, but also kill off the queen. The granules are ready to pour, and it can easily be applied over and around the mound.
The granules are formulated to work deep into the ground, and it begins to work in a matter of minutes. This stops the colony in its tracks, and then it limits the formation of any new mounds.
This formula is easy to apply. Simply sprinkle over the mound, and in the area around the mound, and then gently water the area to get it moist. It is best to apply this in the morning or evening, as this is when the fire ants are most active.
This product is safe for humans and for most pets, but only after it has dried, so make sure to monitor the area until the granules have become dry. It’s toxic to fish and other aquatic animals.
Spectracide is available in two different sizes and it is affordable and highly reviewed.
8. Syngenta A20380A Advion Fire Ant Bait
Syngenta Advion Fire Ant Bait is fast-acting and highly effective. This formula is designed to ensure that fire ant populations are controlled in 24 to 72 hours after application. You can use this on individual mounds as well as spread it over your yard.
When you use this bait, you can rely on the fact that it is effective on all of the stages of the fire ant’s life.
You can apply this formula up to four times each year. Most people apply the bait every 12 to 16 weeks to ensure year-round protection. Keep in mind, that if there is rain within a couple of hours of application, you might have to apply it again within seven days for it to be effective.
You can use this formula on any residential and commercial lawns, recreational areas, and golf carts. In fact, you can use it on any non-crop areas, but it is not recommended for areas where it could run into a waterway or around any plants that produce fruits or vegetables.
Types of Ant Killers
There are two different types of ant killers, baits and sprays. They each work a bit differently and have different goals.
This is why a lot of professional exterminators use a combination of the two for particularly bad infestations.
Sprays
The goal of a spray treatment is to kill the ant as soon as it makes contact. These treatments are for a broader application and are generally effective on a wide range of insects, from ants to cockroaches to termites.
Another key feature of sprays is that they’re effective for a much longer period of time than bait. In fact, they can sometimes last up to 3 months. They’re also much cheaper to make than baits and can cost significantly less.
It’s a little bit easier to get spray into the right area because all you have to do it put it where the ants are known to go. For example, if they’re always scavenging around the garbage cans, that’s a good place to spray.
The downside is that sprays only treat the ants that are out and about, away from the mound. Even spraying near the mound doesn’t guarantee that you’ll wipe out the whole colony because, in order to do that, you have to get the queen.
Bait
Bait works much differently than killer sprays because it’s meant to be taken back to the nest to get the queen. It has delayed effectiveness to give the workers time to ingest it then carry some back with them.
One difference between bait and spray is that bait is only effective for a short amount of time. The longer it sits out in the sun and rain, the more it breaks down and the less effective it is. Baits are usually only effective on ants and each works on only a few ant species.
Bait is meant to lure the ants to it by acting like good-tasting food. One reason why bait can be a little difficult to use is that there may plenty of other, more enticing things for the ants to eat.
The one major benefit to ant baits is that they’re meant to be taken back to the queen and therefore designed to wipe out entire colonies. How effective they are at doing this depends on a few factors, as we’ll see later.
Which Is Best?
It’s hard to say which ant killer type is best because there are so many factors to consider, including the type of ant, environment, moisture, and how well you’re able to establish where feeding trails and mounds are.
How to Choose the Best Ant Killer?
There are several things to consider when choosing an ant killer.
The first thing you have to decide is whether you want to use a spray or bait. If you have problems with multiple insects or if you aren’t able to locate specific trails and mounds, a spray might be the better option.
Another thing to remember is that sprays tend to last a little longer and aren’t as affected by rain and wet weather. If these things are a concern, liquid ant killers might be a better option for you.
If you decide to use bait, the best thing to do is try to determine the kind of ants you’re dealing with because this determines what kind works best. Some ant varieties prefer sweets while others prefer greasy food.
If you’re not sure what kind of ant you’re dealing with, you can always use trial and error by seeing what kind of food they’re more attracted to or start with a sweet bait and, if that doesn’t work, switch to one that’s grease-based.
How Does Ant Bait Work?
While any sprays work by instantly poisoning and killing the ants, baits have a more long-term goal and work a bit differently.
Ants and other insects that live in large colonies have workers and scavengers who go out and search for food to bring back to the mound or nest. Baits take advantage of this to eliminate the whole colony.
How does it work?
The fatal ingredients in ant bait don’t kill them immediately. The workers eat some of the bait and take the rest back to the nest where the entire colony eats it. Eventually, this will kill all the ants, even the queen.
Killing the queen is important so that the colony doesn’t reappear. If you’ve even gotten rid of an ant mound only to have another one pop up a few feet away, it’s likely that you didn’t get the queen the first time and the ants have started building a new colony.
One of the things to remember about bait is that it takes time to work. The ants have to get it back to the nest and then all of the other ants have to consume it so don’t expect a whole colony to be destroyed overnight.
While some baits work quicker than others, you may have to wait a few weeks until you stop seeing ants altogether. Monitor different feeding trails and keep applying bait until the ant disappears.
How to Use Ant Bait?
The way that you apply ant bait helps to determine how effective it is. Here’s the best way to use ant bait to make sure you get results.
1. Spend some time watching the ants locate their trails. These are the routes they travel when looking for food which means it’s the perfect place for bait. If you find more than one trail, bait everyone.
2. Check the trails every day and reapply the bait when it’s gone. If the bait is still there, it’s possible you’re using the wrong kind of bait and the ants don’t want to eat it. If this is the case, consider switching to another kind of bait.
3. Keep placing the bait along each trail until you stop seeing ants there.
4. Once the ants have started taking the bait, wait. It can take weeks for a colony to be wiped out.
Here are some helpful hints to make sure you have the best possible chance of the bait being successful.
Use bait stations if needed to protect the bait from inclement weather.
For best results, bait should be applied in temperatures about 70 and less than 90 degrees F. If the temperature is too hot, consider laying bait in the evening as that’s when the ant will be scavaging for food.
Don’t place bait early in the morning if there is any dew on the grass.
Don’t use any type of repellant near the bait.
Remove any other sources of food if you can, including things like trash cans and pet food.
Discard any unused bait after 6 months or so because it will no longer be fresh and the ants will not be attracted to it.
Is Ant Bait Safe for Pets?
In a word, no, but it does depend on the product so make sure you read all bottles carefully.
While the amount of poison in ant bait shouldn’t be fatal for a household pet, there are some dangers to be aware of.
A lot of these products come in large containers. While a few sprinkles might not affect your pet, getting into the container could be disastrous. Make sure you store any unused product securely and in an area where they can’t get to it.
If you’re concerned about your pet’s safety when using outdoor ant bait, the best thing to do is keep them away from the area until the infestation has been taken care of. This could mean keeping cats in the house or walking your dog instead of letting it run around the backyard.
Conclusion
If you’ve been avoiding your backyard because of a nasty ant infestation, the easiest way to take back what’s yours is to use the right ant killer for the job. By taking the time to discover the kind of ant you’re dealing with, you can pick the product that will be the most effective.
You also have to consider the environment. If you live somewhere where it’s particularly wet or hot, you may need to be more diligent about when and how you apply the ant killer to your yard.
One thing’s for sure, with the right ant killer and a little patience, your lawn will soon be ant-free. Get ready to spend some time outside without having to worry about the pests that might be out there, trying to get in.
I live in the northeast. We don’t have fire ants. All of the recommendations are for fire ants, do they work for all ants? My lawn ants are tiny orange ants and small black ants. Sometimes I see large carpenter ants, but the small ones are destroying my lawn. I have large patches of dead grass. When I turn over the top soil I see the ants. They are all the way to the bottom of the topsoil—about 18” down.
I live in the northeast. We don’t have fire ants. All of the recommendations are for fire ants, do they work for all ants? My lawn ants are tiny orange ants and small black ants. Sometimes I see large carpenter ants, but the small ones are destroying my lawn. I have large patches of dead grass. When I turn over the top soil I see the ants. They are all the way to the bottom of the topsoil—about 18” down.