Last updated: September 2026 · A guide to fire ants in the lawn built from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Two-Step Method
Pest Price Guide is independent. We sell no treatment and take no referral fee from any company.
If someone is stung Fire ant stings usually cause pain and small pustules. Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, dizziness or signs of a severe allergic reaction. Keep children and pets away from mounds during treatment.
The way to get rid of fire ants in the lawn without killing the grass is to use bait, not boiling water or heavy drenches across the yard. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommends its Two-Step Method: broadcast a fire ant bait over the whole lawn, then treat only the problem mounds that remain. Baits contain very small amounts of insecticide and leave the grass alone.
Timing matters as much as the product. Texas A&M suggests broadcasting bait between late August and mid-October, so it can work over the winter, and an Extension entomologist notes that spring and fall are particularly good times to apply baits. That makes fall one of the best seasons to deal with fire ants.
This guide walks through both steps, how to get the most out of bait, what damages the lawn, and when to call a professional.
Why fire ants in the lawn keep coming back
Fire ant colonies live underground, with the queen deep in the mound. Killing the ants you see on top does little, and treating only visible mounds misses colonies you have not spotted yet. A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension summary puts it plainly: treating individual mounds without the broadcast step is only a temporary fix.
Bait solves that problem. Worker ants carry it back to the colony and share it with the queen, which then either dies or becomes infertile, according to Texas A&M. That reaches colonies you never see, across the whole lawn.
Step 1: Broadcast fire ant bait over the lawn
- Choose a fire ant bait labeled for lawns. Texas A&M describes most baits as insecticide on processed corn grits coated with soybean oil, with very low amounts of toxin.
- Check that ants are foraging. Texas A&M suggests placing a little fresh bait, a slice of hot dog or a potato chip next to a mound; if ants start carrying it off within an hour, it is a good time to bait.
- Apply when the ground and grass are dry, using a handheld seed spreader for even coverage. LSU AgCenter suggests applying when temperatures are between 75 and 95 degrees, when ants are foraging.
- Do not water afterward, and avoid baiting when rain is expected within 8 hours, per Texas A&M.
- Be patient. Texas A&M notes that baits are slow-acting and take weeks to months to reach 80 to 90 percent control.
Use fresh bait Texas A&M recommends bait from an unopened container, used within a month or two of opening. Ants ignore old, rancid bait, which wastes the application.
Step 2: Treat only the problem mounds
About a week after baiting, Harris County AgriLife Extension suggests treating individual mounds in high-traffic areas, such as around play areas, patios and walkways. Mound treatments come as drenches, granules, baits or dusts. Texas A&M notes that drenches generally eliminate mounds within a few hours and leave little surface residue, while dusts act fast but leave residue on the surface.
Treat only where people or pets are likely to be stung. Leaving mounds elsewhere to the bait is cheaper, uses less insecticide and is kinder to the lawn.
What kills the grass: methods to avoid
Hurts the lawn or does little
- Boiling water: Texas A&M says it kills ants only about 60 percent of the time and kills grass where poured
- Gasoline, bleach or other chemicals not labeled for fire ants
- Digging or kicking mounds, which just moves the colony
- Treating only visible mounds, over and over
Grass-friendly
- Broadcast bait at labeled rates
- Targeted mound treatments only where needed
- Timing bait for spring and fall foraging
- Repeating the program yearly
Never use gasoline or other fuels on mounds. They kill grass, contaminate soil and are a fire hazard.
Best time to treat fire ants in the lawn
Texas A&M recommends broadcasting bait between late August and mid-October so it can take effect over the winter, and re-applying once or twice a year. Spring is the other good window. An Extension entomologist notes that in hot, dry summer weather fire ants become less active and move deeper into the soil, which makes baits less effective. If you must bait in summer, do it in the evening when ants forage.
Keep children, pets and wildlife safe
- Follow the product label exactly, including where the product can be used.
- Keep children and pets off treated areas for the time the label specifies.
- Store baits and drenches out of reach.
- Do not apply near water features, wells or vegetable gardens unless the label allows it.
Stings cause burning pain and small pustules; our guide to common bug bites covers how fire ant stings compare with other bites and when to see a doctor.
Fire ants in the lawn: treat the whole neighborhood
Fire ants cross property lines, so ants from an untreated yard tend to reinvade the one next door. Texas A&M has worked with communities on neighborhood-wide baiting, and an Extension entomologist credits active community involvement for the success of one such program. If your neighbors have mounds too, coordinating bait dates makes everyone’s treatment last longer.
Fire ants in the lawn: when to call a professional
DIY bait works for most home lawns. A professional makes sense for large properties, heavy infestations that keep returning, or when you want a longer-lasting treatment. Harris County AgriLife Extension notes a second approach: a granular product broadcast once a year, preferably in early spring, by a pest management professional.
In Texas and other southern states, check whether your pest control plan covers fire ants and reinfestation; our Texas pest control cost guide explains why many guarantees exclude them. Our quarterly pest control guide and pest control cost hub help you judge whether ongoing service is worth it.
A note on source quality
Product sellers and lawn care companies write many fire ant guides. We relied on Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, which developed the Two-Step Method, and LSU AgCenter for method and timing. We do not name specific products or give application rates, because those depend on the label. Pest Price Guide sells no treatment and takes no referral fees.
Our methodology
We summarised university extension guidance on fire ant control for home lawns and cited each source at the point of use. Follow the product label for rates, safety and re-entry. Timing varies by region, so watch local temperatures and foraging activity rather than a fixed date.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of fire ants in my lawn without killing the grass?
Broadcast a fire ant bait across the lawn, then treat only problem mounds. Baits leave the grass unharmed when used as labeled.
When is the best time to treat fire ants in the lawn?
Spring and fall. Texas A&M recommends broadcasting bait between late August and mid-October so it can work over the winter.
Does boiling water kill fire ants?
Only about 60 percent of the time, according to Texas A&M, and it kills the grass where you pour it.
How long does fire ant bait take to work?
Weeks to months. Texas A&M says baits are slow-acting but reach 80 to 90 percent control.
Should I water after spreading fire ant bait?
No. Apply to dry grass and avoid baiting when rain is expected within 8 hours.
Why do fire ant mounds keep coming back?
Usually because someone treated only visible mounds, missing hidden colonies, or because ants moved in from untreated neighboring yards.
Fire ants in the lawn: final thoughts
Fire ants in the lawn are best handled with patience rather than force. Broadcast bait across the whole yard in fall or spring, spot-treat only the mounds where people walk and play, and repeat the program each year. That approach, developed and recommended by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, protects the grass and reaches colonies you never see.
Skip boiling water and fuel, keep children and pets away from treated areas, and talk to your neighbors, because fire ants do not respect property lines.
