Is Ant Powder Harmful to Grass?

Grass Species

• Many different granular insecticides are recommended for ant control in your lawn, and it is important to choose an insecticide that is rated for safe use on the species of grass in your lawn. Product labeling on insecticides rated for ant control on lawns will list grass species that the insecticide may damage and those on which the insecticide is safe to use.

Insecticide Recommendations

• The more frequently you apply a granular insecticide, the more likely your lawn grass may be damaged, so another way of minimizing damage to your lawn grass is to choose an insecticide that will quickly and efficiently take care of your ant problem. Granular insecticides for ant control are often sold as baits that worker ants carry down into the colony and feed to the queen, thereby killing the entire colony. Effective granular bait insecticides for ants typically include abamectin, indoxacarb, fenoxycarb, hydramethylnon, hydramethylnon + (s)methyoprene, pyriproxyfen, (s)­methoprene, spinosad and others.

Application Tips

• The most important way to ensure that your grass will not be damaged by a granular ant insecticide is to follow the manufacturer's application instructions exactly. Granular baits, like all other insecticides, are designed to achieve the insecticidal result without causing undue harm to anything but the insects. But if the insecticide is applied improperly, damage to your lawn is not only more likely, but the effectiveness of the insecticide in controlling your ant problem will be compromised.

Other Considerations

• Even if you follow all the instructions, there is still a chance that your lawn could be damaged by a granular ant bait insecticide. If you are very concerned about grass damage, test the insecticide in a small, secluded part of your lawn first, and monitor the grass for any signs of damage. Combining an insecticide treatment with cultural management practices, such as raking or mowing anthills (as long as they are not fire ant hills), will minimize the amount of insecticide you need to use and thus minimize the chances that your lawn will be damaged.