Yes. Regular irrigation can make a lawn much easier for ants to live in by keeping the soil softer, cooler, and more moist than the surrounding ground. In Southern California, that can make irrigated turf an attractive nesting area.
People often think of ants as being hungry for sugar. They imagine them trailing over the counter to get to food. That’s certainly true, but they also need water. And when a drought is really bad, that can start pushing ants inside.
Southern fire ants are common around here. You can find them building mounds in open sunny turf and they can sting. Pyramid ants are the ones that build small crater-like mounds often around sidewalks and driveways, and they’re harmless. Argentine ants are the ones most responsible for Los Angeles household invasions and they tend to go for mulch and irrigated damp soil.
Overwatering is a common cause of trouble here. Sprinklers run daily, often overspraying onto walkways and foundations. That can cause low spots to stay saturated constantly and create the kinds of conditions ants want. So fixing irrigation issues is one of the best things you can do about ant problems.
Beyond that, if you want to treat ants, you have to reach the colony. That won’t happen by raking mounds flat or drenching them with water. Your best bet is to place baits that foragers can take back to queens. Give a few days for this to happen, and once the colony goes into collapse and the ants stop showing up, seal gaps that allow them inside.
If ant mounds keep appearing in your lawn, Mosquito Squad of Los Angeles can help. Mosquito Squad treats the ant colonies in your yard and around your foundation. This will help you protect your lawn and keep the trails from reaching your door.
