Today I was pulling weeds up before they grow larger and harder to remove. Fire ants were also out and are another thing entirely to have to deal with while weeding. We are blessed to live in Florida having many spring-like days in February. With beautiful temperatures without humidity, who wouldn’t want to spend the day outside in the yard. That is until you accidentally step into a fire ant mound. At which time, a gazillion (no lie), of angry ants militarily come out to aggressively bite and sting their venom into you. They are called “fire” ants because they will light you up! Only the fire ant queen has wings, but fire ants are in the stinging Hymenoptera family, which includes wasps and bees. The only thing worse than dealing with fire ants on a spring day, is to deal with fire ants in the heat of summer.
The Dilemma
Fire ants are a curse for sure! Dealing with them in the spring is the best way to control a population explosion of their colonies before the heat of summer. I have not met anyone that has totally eradicated their yard of them. The best you can do, it seems, is to keep addressing their ant hills. Poison will only cause them to move over about 10 feet. It is very hard not to poison yourself, family pets, or any children playing outside in the yard in the process. So, as frustrating as fire ants are to deal with, deal with them, we must. But how can one have victory over these tiny menacing enemy armies without harming people, pets, or the vegetable garden you are about to plant? You surely don’t want to wait until the heat of the summer to begin to reclaim your yard from fire ants.
The Remedy
I have learned a few things living in the south about keeping fire ants at bay in our yard. Unfortunately, I cannot say that I have eradicated the problem. Fire ants are persistent in areas around outdoor trash cans, where we park our cars, and where any type of food crumbs can be found around patio settings. There is nothing worse than to climb in your 110-degree car in the August heat and sit in a seat full of fire ants. It is equally horrible to come home to find that fire ants have invaded your pantry. YOU HAVE TO BE JUST AS DETERMINED to win the war they wage. Here are a few great tips that will help you reclaim your yard from fire ants before the heat of summer.
War Waging Options
When you see an ant mound on a sunny day – treat it! Go check it a day or so later. If they moved over just a few feet because they liked the neighborhood, treat their new home just as quickly. You may end up chasing them all over the yard. However, their numbers will not be as great as if you just left them alone.
If fire ants are in your flower pot, then grab your broom. Use the broom to hit the sides of the pot stirring the fire ants up into a frenzy. Let them settle back down, and in an hour or two go back and repeat the process. Fire ants do not like to be disturbed. They WILL eventually move out of your flower pot. Where they go may be an easier spot to treat or to kill them without killing your flowers.
One and a half ounces of Orange Oil with three ounces of Dawn dish soap to a gallon of water is very effective at killing fire ants.
Boiling water kills fire ants. Use a garden hoe to stir up the mound. Then pour a large kettle of boiling water on the mound. This can be risky for you, but it works immediately, killing fire ants without harmful chemicals.
Make a solution of 1 cup of bleach, 1/4 cup of liquid laundry soap, and water in a clean gallon jug. Stir up the mound and pour solution into the center and all the holes in the mound. It works best on a sunny day when they bring their eggs to the surface level to be warmed by the sun.
Do not feed them grits. You will just make them happy and fat.
LASTLY, call in the professionals to use fire ant killer.
Conclusion To The Matter
To get control of fire ants before the heat of summer, start early. Fire ants are aggressively seeking food and growing their colony in the spring. Sunny days are better for treating fire ants because they bring their eggs to the surface levels in the mound to be warmed by the sun. This way you kill current worker ants and unborn next generation ants. Always try to use the most non-toxic method possible. Insecticide chemicals can adversely affect people, especially children, and pets. Lastly, call in the professionals for a price, of course.
Best wishes for success. And by the way, if you succeed in ridding your yard of fire ants, please share the method that worked for you. I’d love to hear it! Blessings until next time.
Very helpful and great ideas and tips to try to use. Thanks for sharing.
You have to stay on top of the fire ant situation! It is painful if you don’t! :O