Gray and brown mounds filled my lawn in Wilmington each year when the weather was warm, creating an ugly sight around my home. Even in Florida I have them in my gardens and around the driveways. Inside those mounds were millions of little tiny fire ants. They’d have their long trails going all across my driveway, up the front stairs, on my porches – the rascals were a nuisance. I felt like those pests were taking over my home! More serious than the tall, ugly mounds are the painful stings they have.
I quickly grow tired and frustrated with not being able to walk out in my yard or porch without having a few crawl onto my feet and sting me. Their sting is worse than a bee, and swells terribly through the next day!
So, every year, before they drive me nuts, I take care of them with a few items from the hardware store. If you are having problems with fire ants too, here is what I did to get rid of them. Hopefully you will have the same luck!
Broadcast and bait. Those are two terms you will hear over and over. in fire ant treatment. It simply means throwing fire ant granules, that act as bait, all over your yard. Fire ants will be attracted to the bait granules because they think its food. When they take the food-like baits back to their mounds to share, they will be killing all their fire ant families and friends, including the queen ant. All fire ants in visible and hidden mounds under the ground will die.
AMDRO is the best granule supplier I have found. It is extremely powerful and quick to work. It can be found in ACE, Walmart, and many other home and garden departments. Typically, AMDRO costs around $10 to $15 for one medium container, but that one container should be all you need for even a medium to large-size lawn. I empty the AMDRO contents into a bucket. Then I throw out the granules, trying to do it evenly, all over my yard. I even go over my yard a second time just to be on the safe side. I want to add that I don’t just apply the granules to one or two areas, I throw it out over my entire lawn. In doing that, I am sure the ants won’t just pack up and move to any untreated locations a few feet away.
In addition, you can use a fertilizer slinger/broadcaster as well – it should work great in getting the granules spread out over the entire affected area without having to touch the granules with your hands (not that it’s harmful or anything).
Fire ants don’t like to be disturbed. So, try not to step on the mounds and such – else, they will attack and sting you. The ants also do not like wet baits. The best time to throw the granules on your lawn is a day when your yard or fire ant-infested areas are dry. Make sure it isn’t supposed to rain in the next 24-26 hours too.
Fire ants are continuously recolonizing, so don’t be surprised if two or three months after killing the first ones, you start to see new mounds forming. It is almost inevitable. As soon as they re-appear, broadcast the AMDRO baits on the area just as you did before.
This method always works for me, and I hope it helps you as well!
