Our Edmonton Pest Control Experts Answer: Why Are Ants in My Yard?

You step outside to enjoy your yard, and there they are by the hundreds—ants, marching about like they own the place. They’re on your patio, along your walkway, and maybe even building tiny mounds on your lawn. 

What in the world is going on?

It’s either for food, shelter or just the soil to build their underground empire. Either way, they’ve decided your yard is prime real estate.

Photo credits to unsplash.com

But what exactly is bringing them here? Should you be worried? And most importantly—how do you get rid of ants? Our Edmonton pest control experts answer your questions!

1. What Attracts Ants to My Edmonton Yard?

Ants are highly organized foragers searching for food, water, and a safe place to build their colonies. If they’ve moved into your yard, it means they’ve found something worth sticking around for, like:

• Food sources. Ants love crumbs, pet food, fallen fruit, and sugary spills. Even a few overlooked morsels can bring a steady stream of ants to your yard.
• Nesting materials. Mulch, damp wood, and loose soil create the perfect environment for ants to dig tunnels and establish colonies.
• Water supply. Leaky outdoor faucets, birdbaths, puddles, and even morning dew provide ants with the moisture they need to survive.

2. Where Do Ants Build Their Nests?

Ants are master builders, creating intricate underground tunnels or moving into soft, rotting wood. Most ants, including pavement ants and field ants, dig beneath lawns, gardens, and sidewalks, forming visible dirt mounds at the surface.

Then there are wood nesters like carpenter ants, which don’t eat wood but tunnel through it, nesting in rotting stumps, fence posts, sheds, or even home siding. If left unchecked, they can weaken wooden structures, causing long-term damage. 

Overgrown landscaping, mulch beds, and damp soil are an open invitation for ants to build their nests. Even cracks in pavement or bricks provide a perfect entry point for colonies to settle in. If you notice frequent ant trails leading to the same spot, chances are a nest is nearby, and it’s time to take action.

3. Do Seasons Affect Ant Activity?

Absolutely! Ant behaviour shifts throughout the year, depending on weather and food availability.

• Spring: Colonies expand rapidly as ants emerge from dormancy and search for food. This is when they invade yards and gardens in full force.
• Summer: Ant activity peaks, and you may notice more mounds in lawns and ants around patios, picnic areas, and garbage bins.
• Fall: As temperatures drop, some ants move indoors, searching for warmth and shelter.
• Winter: Most ants become less active outdoors, but that doesn’t mean they disappear! Some colonies go deeper underground, while others move inside homes and heated buildings to survive.

4. Can Ants Damage My Lawn or Garden?

While most ants won’t destroy your yard per se, some species can cause considerable damage.

• Large ant mounds can smother grass and disrupt soil structure, leading to bare patches.
• Some ants farm aphids, which suck sap from plants and cause wilting, yellowing, or stunted growth.
• As ants tunnel beneath the ground, they can dry out plant roots, making it harder for grass and flowers to thrive.
• Ants can attract other pests, creating a bigger garden pest problem than just the ants themselves.

5. Do Ants Cause Structural Damage?

Most ants aren’t destructive, but carpenter ants are an exception. Unlike termites, they don’t eat wood, but they tunnel through it to build their nests, weakening fences, decks, sheds, and even parts of your home.

If you spot sawdust-like debris, weakened wooden structures, or ants trailing along your walls, it could mean carpenter ants are at work.

Pavement ants are another nuisance—they burrow under sidewalks, patios, and driveways, causing cracks and shifting concrete over time.

6. How Do I Keep Ants from Taking Over My Yard?

The best way to discourage ants from invading your yard is to remove what attracts them. 

• Keep outdoor eating areas clean. Wipe down patio tables, sweep up crumbs, and wash away spills immediately.
• Store pet food indoors. If food must be outside, use sealed containers. Don’t leave leftovers out overnight.
• Pick up fallen fruit and food waste. Overripe fruit, compost scraps, and even birdseed can become prime targets for ants.
• Trim overgrown vegetation. Dense plants trap moisture, creating an environment that attracts ants and their food sources, like aphids.

7. How Can I Get Rid of the Ants?

It might be tempting to immediately spray every ant in sight, but surface sprays only kill the ants you see—not the thousands hiding underground. You want to target the ant colony for lasting results. 

We recommend baits since they work much better than sprays. Ants carry poison back to the nest, eliminating the queen and stopping reproduction.

It’s best to locate nest sites first. You can follow ant trails to find out where they’re coming from. Baiting takes time, but it’s the most effective long-term solution. You don’t want to target a colony with the wrong strategy because it might just cause them to relocate. It’s important to get it right the first time.

8. Can I Use Any Natural Remedies?

Yes, but in our experience, they rarely work. While natural remedies can reduce ant presence, they rarely eliminate entire colonies. However, they’re great for minor issues or additional deterrents. Here are some known to work:

• Diatomaceous earth (DE): This powder dehydrates ants, killing them on contact. Sprinkle along entry points and trails. Note: It only works when dry and must be reapplied after cleaning or rain. 
• Vinegar or lemon juice: Disrupts ant pheromone trails, making it harder for them to navigate. Use it on surfaces where ants frequently travel. It evaporates quickly, so frequent reapplication is needed.
• Cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and citrus peels: Strong scents mask food sources and repel ants, but they won’t kill the colony. Their effect, though, is temporary, and it doesn’t eliminate nests.
• Introduce natural predators: Encourage birds, toads, and beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps, which help keep ant populations in check by feeding on ants or their food sources.
• Boiling water: Pouring boiling water directly into visible ant mounds can destroy surface-level nests, though it may not reach deep enough to eliminate the entire colony. Note: This may only affect ants near the surface and can damage nearby plants or your lawn.

9. When Should I Call a Professional?

If an infestation is in full swing and DIY methods aren’t cutting it, it’s time to call pest control experts. Here’s when you know you need help: 

• If ants keep returning: If baits, sprays, and natural remedies aren’t stopping the problem, it’s likely a larger infestation than you realize.
• If you spot carpenter ants: These require immediate treatment before they cause structural damage to fences, decks, or homes.
• If ant mounds are spreading rapidly: Don’t wait here. A professional can locate hidden nests and apply treatments to prevent reinfestation.

Give Ants Their Marching Orders with Buzz Boss!

Ants might be small, but they can cause major damage to your yard if left unchecked. And getting rid of them is a little more complicated than just spraying a few stragglers.

If ants keep coming back no matter what you do, it’s time to call in the pros. At Buzz Boss, we offer ant control services that eliminate the colony at the source and keep them from returning. Also check out our pest control packages, providing season-long protection against ants and other pests.

We proudly serve Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Regina, so no matter where you are, we’ve got your back.