- Ant hills in your yard vary in importance according to their size and what type of ant created them. Small hills by tiny black sugar ants might not be noticeable in your grass and you might never know those ants are there. Large hills created by fire ants are not only disfiguring to your yard, but they could also be a danger to your family and your pets. Using insecticide on an ant hill allows you to kill all the ants in the nest, getting rid of them so you can level the hill without them rebuilding it.
- Two insecticides that work on ant hills are diatomaceous earth and compost tea. Diatomaceous earth is made from naturally occurring minerals. It poisons ants if they eat it. It also pulls moisture out of their bodies on contact and can kill by dehydrating them. Compost tea is created by steeping compost in water. The longer you leave the compost in water, the stronger it becomes. To create a liquid strong enough to kill ants, let compost steep for two or three days.
- To use diatomaceous earth on an ant hill, wait for a dry day; humidity reduces its potency. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the ant hill, creating a well-powdered barrier ring. Next, sprinkle the powder over the ant hill itself. Using a stick or a rod, scratch the diatomaceous earth into the soil, then sprinkle more on top of the turned-up dirt. If you use compost tea, pour it slowly and steadily onto the ant hill until the earth is soaked and can hold no more liquid.
- Wear long sleeves, pants and gloves while applying insecticide to ant hills to reduce your risk of being stung. You might need to apply the insecticide more than once to completely wipe out the nest. After the first application, wait three days. If you still see ant activity, reapply either the diatomaceous earth or compost tea. Keep children and pets away from the area. You don't want a dog reeking of compost tea to get into your home. Diatomaceous earth can cause gastric upset in humans and animals if ingested.
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