Article: Wait until the evening or night during the summer months, as this is when the fire ants will normally be foraging. Place a small amount of bait next to each mound that you can find. You can buy fire ant bait from gardening stores. The fire ants will take the bait within 30 minutes. Fire ant bait is designed to act slowly, so that the queen will also be targeted. The instructions that come with the fire ant bait will specify the amount to use and the best placement. Sprinkle the mound treatment in a full circle around the fire ant mounds. Make sure to follow all of the safety instructions listed on the package. Mound treatments contain acephate, which is a slow-acting poison that will eventually kill the fire ants. The fire ants will eat the poison and share it with the queen, which works to slowly wipe out the whole colony. Mound treatments won't work once they get wet, so try to pick a sunny day. Mound treatments will only work on the mound that it encircles. You will have to repeat the treatment around each individual mound. You can get fire ant mound treatments from gardening centers. Use a push spreader to apply granules of fire-ant killer over your whole lawn. Cover all areas that are possible. This solution is best if you have to deal with multiple mounds that are spread across a larger area. A lawn treatment will usually rid your lawn of fire ants for a full season.You can buy these from gardening stores. It is necessary to use a push spreader to apply the lawn treatment, as applying it by hand is very difficult. If you don't have one, many rental yards and plant nurseries loan them out. Some lawn treatments are safe for native ant species. Contact a local exterminator company that can work specifically with fire ants. Professionals have access to treatments that aren't available to the general public, and these may be more effective against stubborn fire ant infestations.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Broadcast fire ant bait while the ants are foraging. Use a mound treatment 7-10 days after using fire ant bait. Apply a season-long lawn treatment for longer-term pest control. Hire a professional exterminator if you have a long-term problem with fire ants.