How to Get Rid of Fire Ants

I'm Bill Elzey with Showplace Lawns. I want to talk to you a little bit about how to get rid of fire ants. Fire ants have been coming on stronger and stronger each year and they have really become a nuisance and have taken over at a great rate. But you know it sure is nice to be able to sit back and enjoy being out in the yard without having these pests around. So a good way to get rid of them would be to use an ant bait in the Spring. The ant bait will go on the mound. The worker ants carry that to the queen, then a nice dry molasses application across the entire yard will help keep them away, drive them away. The other thing too is beneficial nematodes are an ideal control. Beneficial nematodes sprayed three different times during the year on the yard, the nematodes eat the ants and will control them as well. The third thing would be to use an orange oil mix, mixing six ounces of orange oil, two ounces of horticultural molasses to a gallon of water. That is a drench on the mound. Those things will really deter the fire ants and help you to enjoy your lawn.