As everyone knows, fire ants are a big problem here in the Carolinas. There are multiple solutions to take care of the problem. The question is which is right for you, your yard and your budget? The first step in answering that question is to properly identify whether the majority of the ants you see are fire ants or non-biting ants.
Fire ant mounds are usually dome shape and the entry points aren’t very clear. Non-biting ants are likely to have more of a pyramid style ant hill with a well-defined entry point. Non-biting ants are good for the environment and should be left alone unless the number of mounds get to where they visibly become a problem and take away from the beauty of your landscape.
So, if fire ants are your problem, then TopChoice (http://www.bayertopchoice.com/) is your solution. We offer a once a year treatment with a one year guarantee from the date of original treatment. Within 6 weeks this product gets 90% control of fire ants and continues to increase control until 100% control is obtained at the 300 day mark. Beyond 300 days, fire control diminishes to the point that retreatment is desired. Some customers want a preventative treatment annually. Others call us back after the year warranty when the ants start to become a nuisance again, but every one of them swear by the service. As an added benefit, TopChoice kills fleas for 30 days and grub worms for up to 3 months. A TopChoice application in May will probably help control grubs because they generally emerge from the ground as a beetle in June and then lay eggs in the turf in July and August. TopChoice is manufactured by Bayer Crop Science and they offer a $15 rebate on their web site at bayertopchoice.com.
If you are having problems with fire ants and other ants, we offer treatments that are considered “non-selective” in that they kill all insects in your yard; both beneficial & non. These treatments are usually ½ the cost per treatment but only carry a 30 to 60 day guarantee. For continual control, you can expect 2 to 3 treatments within a year.
One other treatment that targets fire ants is a fire ant bait. Products like Amdro and Spectrum are probably the most popular do it yourself solutions. We offer a professional products used for baiting as well, which we recommend for large areas like pastures, where TopChoice is either not in the budget or labeled for a particular application. Baits are effective as long as they are applied under the right weather conditions when ants are foraging for food. This is generally when outside air and soil temperatures are between 72 and 94 degrees. Baits have no residual so no guarantee is offered. The time fire ants repopulate an area depends on the surrounding fire ant pressure.
Many homeowners that have attempted to control fire ants with DYI solutions often complain that they are just chasing the ants around their yard. We agree and that is why we recommend TopChoice. We offer payment arrangement on TopChoice applications as a budget friendly solution. Call the office or e-mail us at LawnHelp@ClarksTurfPro.com to schedule a free estimate.
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