Ant nests in the garden are completely normal. Sooner or later they can be found in every garden. And although, as we all know, ants are actually beneficial insects and, among other things, keep the environment clean, in some cases they can actually do harm or simply be a nuisance with their presence. When the flying ants appear, the ant nest in the garden is immediately noticeable - after all, the insects attract everyone's attention with their shiny wings. In today's article we would like to summarize what these intruders actually are and what you can do against flying ants in the lawn.
Anyone who believes that flying ants are a special type of ant is wrong. They are normal black or yellow ants that are simply in their mating season. Since only the males and queens of these insects mate, they are precisely these representatives of the colony. So they only appear temporarily and disappear again as soon as the mating season is over. Then the future queens look for a new place and settle there to found their own ant colonies and build ant nests.
Preventing ants in the garden
There is usually a reason why flying ants settle in the lawn (or ants in general) and by preventing this, you can also avoid the invasion. Check the garden for the following:
- Root lice. Not only aphids like these beneficial insects, but also root lice. If the lawn is infested with them, that is a good reason for a queen ant to settle there.
- Ideal Temperatures. The ant also doesn't like excessive heat. That's why she prefers to look for a place in the shade or partial shade for her nest.
- Dry soils. If dry soil is added, which is conveniently loosened up a little by lawn roots, your lawn turns into a paradise for ant colonies.
- Loose grassy soil. This occurs when the turf is not dense enough and provides ideal conditions for ants to build a nest. Dry soil, combined with a few supportive roots here and there, but not too many as these would deprive the insects of the soil they need. The solution is a turf that grows nice and thick, which you can achieve with proper care and high-quality seed mixes.
Effectively combat flying ants in the lawn
If it is already too late for preventive measures this season, you can take action against them directly. Which remedies for flying ants in the lawn are effective and environmentally friendly at the same time?
Fight flying ants with smells
Surely you know that pretty much every insect (or animal)hates certain smells. This is no different with the ant and therefore also with the flying representatives. So, of course, use scents to drive away the colony and flying ants by simply spreading them all over the anthill. Suitable herbs and fragrances obtained from them, such as essential oils, are, for example:
- Anis
- Eucalyptus
- Garlic
- Lavender
- marjoram
- sage
- Cinnamon
- Lemon balm
What to do against ants – prepare manure or use water
You can also use the herbs mentioned together with nettles to create a...To prepare manure, which you then regularly pour over the ant hole. In addition to the smells, the constant wetness also bothers the insects. If you repeat the process often enough, they will soon run away and build a new nest somewhere else.
You can achieve the same effect with normal water. So when you water the garden, you also flood the ant nest from time to time. However, caution is advised when using the flood method, as too much of a good thing will ultimately damage the lawn. Too much moisture can lead to root rot. For this reason, you should not flood the building randomly, but rather target the entrances.
Proper lawn care against ant infestation
We have already mentioned that a dense turf prevents queen ants from even starting to build a nest. You can achieve this through proper care and this includes mowing. If you trim the lawns regularly, this will also contribute to denser rooting. But even if you are already plagued by an ant infestation, regular mowing helps. The pests feel disturbed by this and soon look for a safe place.
If you have acidic soil, you canwith the help of limebalance. This fertilizer is also unpleasant for the ant colony, so flying ants in the lawn are also avoided. Coffee grounds are also perfect as a fertilizer with repellent properties. You can either distribute it in a concentrated manner only on the building or fertilize the entire lawn with it, which is very practical as a balance, especially in alkaline soils. The lawn becomes stronger and can therefore better withstand pests or drive away existing ones.
Notice: Remedies against ants such as baking soda, hot water (also kills the lawn) or traps made of beer and sugar are mentioned again and again, but they ensure that the beneficial insects die in agony and should therefore be avoided for the sake of the environment and the animals.
Get rid of flying ants in the lawn - attract natural enemies
Let Mother Nature do the work and use natural predators if you want to get rid of flying ants in the lawn. For this purpose, you should of course lure the enemies into your garden. The following are well suited:
- Frogs– Have you been considering a pond for a while? This will also attract frogs, which will help you in the fight against ants, mosquitoes, flies and the like.
- Nematodes– You can pour these directly into the building with irrigation water.
- Spiders– It’s understandable that you don’t necessarily want to see these creepy crawlies in the house. But at least let them stay in your garden, because there you will wonderfully protect them from numerous pests.
- Birds– The woodpecker eats them from the trunk, the ground woodpecker from the ground and directly from the nest.
- Wasps– Aphids and ants are among the most popular foods hererather unwanted insects in the garden. For this reason, it's worth turning a blind eye if you see a wasp in your garden.
Tipp: You can also get rid of flying ants in the lawn by relocating them. You can find out exactly how to do thisin this article.
