Ants can be surprisingly persistent when they decide your lawn is the perfect spot for their nest. What starts as a few scattered mounds quickly turns into a network of tunnels running just beneath the surface. Your neatly kept grass starts to suffer, the soil feels uneven underfoot, and mowing becomes more of a chore than it should be. Sound familiar?
Whether you’re trying to keep your garden neat, protect pets and children from aggressive ants, or just stop the soil from being disturbed, knowing how to get rid of an ants’ nest in your lawn is something every homeowner or gardener should feel confident about. It’s not always about reaching for chemicals either — the best results often come from a combination of understanding, simple steps, and consistency.
This guide will walk you through it all. You’ll learn why ants build nests in lawns, how to spot the signs early, what methods work to remove the nests, and — importantly — how to keep them from coming back. If you’re ready to take your lawn back, here’s what you need to know.
Why Ants Build Nests in Lawns
Before you do anything else, it helps to understand why ants choose your lawn in the first place. They’re not setting up camp randomly — there are specific things they look for, and once you know what those are, you can start making your garden a less inviting space for them.
What Attracts Ants to Lawns
Ants are drawn to places that give them what they need: warm, dry soil, shelter, and access to food. Lawns, particularly ones that aren’t overly shaded or soggy, offer a great environment for their nests. The soil is often loose enough for tunnelling, and if the area gets good sunlight, the warmth helps support the colony’s activity levels.
Food doesn’t have to be directly in the lawn either. Dropped crumbs from outdoor dining, pet food bowls, and even garden waste can be enough to bring scout ants in. Once they’ve found something promising, the colony may decide to move in and build nearby.
Some types of grass or turf are more prone to hosting ants than others, especially if the soil underneath tends to dry quickly and isn’t heavily compacted. If your lawn is already stressed or thinning in patches, that makes it even easier for ants to dig in.
Understanding Ant Colony Behaviour Underground
An ant nest isn’t just a small hole in the ground. What you see on the surface — those dry-looking hills or crumbled patches of soil — is just the entrance. Below that, ants construct an intricate system of tunnels and chambers that can run quite deep, depending on the species and how established the nest is.
Each nest houses a queen, worker ants, and sometimes soldiers or other castes. Worker ants are constantly moving in and out, foraging, building, and defending the nest. If left alone, the colony grows in size, becomes harder to remove, and may even split off into new nests elsewhere in your garden.
When you disrupt the surface without addressing the core of the colony, it can make the ants more aggressive — or cause them to relocate elsewhere in your lawn, starting the cycle all over again.
The Impact of Ant Nests on Lawn Health
Apart from the visual problem — unsightly mounds dotted across your lawn — ants can cause actual damage to grass health and the soil underneath. Their tunnelling disrupts the evenness of the surface, making the lawn feel bumpy or hollow in places. It can also lead to areas of grass dying back, especially around the hills where the soil has been turned over.
Ants don’t eat grass, but the way they move soil around can leave roots exposed, disturb seed beds, or weaken turf structure. If you mow regularly, the raised soil can cause problems for the mower blades or leave messy streaks.
So while a few ants might seem harmless at first, a fully formed nest in your lawn has the potential to do real damage — and the longer you leave it, the harder it becomes to deal with.
How to Identify Ant Activity in Your Lawn
Knowing what to look for — and catching it early — makes a big difference. Not all nests are obvious straight away, and if you don’t spot the signs, you might miss the chance to stop the colony before it expands.
Visible Signs of Ant Hills and Trails
The most obvious sign of an ants’ nest is the presence of small, dry mounds of soil. These are usually sandy or dusty in texture and often appear suddenly, especially after warm weather. You’ll often spot them along edges, near paving stones, under play equipment, or right in the middle of open grass.
If you look closely, you might see tiny trails of ants moving in and out of the hill or fanning out in straight lines across the lawn. These trails often lead to food sources — like a dropped piece of fruit, a compost bin, or a nearby plant that attracts aphids (which ants tend to farm for honeydew).
In lighter infestations, the surface soil may look disturbed, with grass around it thinning or turning brown. Over time, the nests can spread into clusters of hills across different parts of the lawn.
When You’re Dealing with Red Ants or Aggressive Species
Most garden ants in the UK are black ants (Lasius niger), which are a nuisance but not aggressive. However, in some areas you might come across red ants or similar species that bite or sting when disturbed.
Red ants are more likely to react if you accidentally walk over their nest or try to move the soil. You’ll often feel a sharp nip or see them swarm out more quickly than black ants.
If you suspect you’re dealing with aggressive ants, take care when treating the nest — and avoid disturbing it without a plan in place. Gloves, boots, and a cautious approach go a long way.
How to Tell If the Nest Is Active or Dormant
Sometimes a nest might look fresh but isn’t currently active. You can test for activity by disturbing the surface soil gently with a stick or your foot and waiting to see what happens. If ants pour out or start repairing the hill quickly, the nest is still active.
Another method is to place a piece of sweet fruit or a spoonful of jam nearby and wait 10–15 minutes. If you see ants arriving, that means the colony is still foraging and present underground.
Knowing whether a nest is active helps you choose the right time to treat it — and makes sure your efforts aren’t wasted.
Methods to Remove an Ant Nest from Your Lawn
Once you’ve identified an active ant nest in your lawn, the next step is choosing the right way to deal with it. There are a few different approaches — from natural methods to stronger treatments — depending on the severity and your personal preference.
Natural Solutions That Are Lawn-Friendly
If you want to avoid harsh chemicals or are dealing with a small colony, natural methods are a good place to start. They’re safer for children, pets, and the environment — though they may take a little longer to work.
Boiling water is a popular choice. Slowly pour it directly into the nest entrance early in the morning or late in the evening when ants are likely to be inside. This can collapse tunnels and kill off a good portion of the colony.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine, natural powder that damages ants’ exoskeletons. Sprinkle it around the nest and along visible trails. It works best when dry and should be reapplied after rain.
White vinegar and soapy water can also help. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water, or add washing-up liquid to warm water, and pour it into the nest. The strong smell and acidity disrupt the ants’ scent trails and nesting behaviour.
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Safe for wildlife and pets
- Readily available
Cons:
- May require multiple treatments
- Less effective on large or deep nests
Using Lawn-Safe Ant Killers and Treatments
For more established nests, a lawn-safe insecticide or ant killer might be more effective. Choose products specifically designed for outdoor or turf use, and always follow label instructions carefully.
Granular treatments can be sprinkled over the nest and watered in. These soak into the soil and are carried back to the colony by foraging ants. Gel baits work in a similar way — ants take the poisoned bait home, which kills the queen and stops the colony from reproducing.
Apply these products during dry weather for best results, and keep children and pets away until the treatment has dried or settled into the soil.
Pros:
- Faster, more complete kill
- Effective on large colonies
Cons:
- May contain chemicals
- Not suitable for organic gardens
Professional Lawn Care or Pest Control Options
If you’ve tried everything and the ants keep returning — or if you’re facing multiple nests across your garden — calling in professional help might be the best next step.
Lawn care specialists or pest control experts can identify the species, assess the extent of the infestation, and apply more targeted treatments. Some use high-pressure water or professional-grade insecticides that go deeper into the soil than home methods can.
They can also advise on long-term prevention, aeration, and lawn recovery after ant damage.
Pros:
- High success rate
- Saves time and guesswork
Cons:
- Cost may be higher
- May require multiple visits
Preventing Ant Nests from Returning
Getting rid of a nest is one thing. Keeping ants from coming back is another — and that’s where long-term prevention becomes important. A healthy, well-maintained lawn is your best defence.
Maintaining a Healthy Lawn to Deter Ants
Regular mowing, watering, and feeding keep your grass thick and strong. Dense turf makes it harder for ants to find bare soil to dig into, and regular disturbance discourages them from settling.
Keep the grass at a moderate height, remove thatch buildup, and feed the lawn every few months using a balanced fertiliser. A strong root system and even coverage go a long way in reducing the chance of nests forming.
Soil Aeration and Drainage Improvements
Compacted or overly dry soil is attractive to ants. By aerating the lawn — either manually with a fork or using an aeration tool — you improve airflow and water movement in the soil. This helps roots grow deeper and discourages ants from nesting.
If your garden has poor drainage or puddling issues, consider improving the layout, adding topsoil, or creating run-off channels to direct excess water away from problem areas.
Ongoing Monitoring and Spot Treatments
Keep an eye on the areas where ants previously built nests. Regularly check for new hills, trail activity, or areas where the soil looks dry and disturbed.
At the first sign of return, act quickly. Reapply natural deterrents or use spot treatments before the nest gets re-established.
Consistency is the key here. A quick response now can save you from a full repeat infestation later on.
Our Final Say!
Getting rid of an ants’ nest in your lawn takes a bit of patience, but it’s completely doable once you know what you’re up against. Understanding why ants build there, how their colonies work, and what methods actually make a difference gives you the control you need to take your garden back.
Whether you start with boiling water and vinegar, move on to baiting, or bring in the professionals, the goal is the same — break the colony and make your lawn an unfriendly place for ants in future.
A healthy lawn isn’t just better to look at — it’s more resilient, more comfortable to use, and easier to maintain. Stay on top of the signs, act early, and your lawn will stay clear of nests long-term.
