How-to
Fire ant control for DFW commercial properties
Updated · Glossary
On large commercial properties, the method that works is what Texas A&M AgriLife calls the two-step. You broadcast fire ant bait across the whole area, then treat the individual mounds that need to be gone fast, like the ones by playgrounds, sidewalks and entries. Treating mounds by themselves just moves the colonies a few feet. In North Texas, spring and fall are the best times to put bait down.
Why treating mounds alone doesn’t work
For every mound you can see, there are colonies you can’t. Pour a product on a mound and you often kill the top of the colony while the queen survives and moves next door. On an HOA common area or a retail center, that means new mounds within a week and a crew that keeps going back to the same spots.
The two-step method
- Broadcast bait over the whole area. Worker ants carry it back and feed it to the queen. It’s slow, anywhere from days to several weeks depending on the product, but it reaches the colonies you can’t see.
- Use a fast-acting mound treatment where people walk, sit or play: playgrounds, pool decks, sports fields, entries and sidewalks.
Getting the bait to work
Put it down when the ground is warm and the ants are out foraging. Not in the heat of a summer afternoon, and not in cold weather.
Rain or irrigation right after spreading ruins it, so hold the sprinklers and skip days with rain in the forecast. Use fresh bait, too. Old or opened bait goes stale and the ants ignore it.
One more: don’t put bait and a mound treatment on the same spot on the same day. The mound treatment kills the workers before they can carry the bait home.
Where to focus
| Area | Why it matters | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Playgrounds and pool areas | Children, bare feet, liability | Broadcast plus mound treatment, checked every visit |
| Sidewalks and entries | Tenants and residents walk past daily | Broadcast plus mound treatment |
| Sports fields and open turf | Large area, many hidden colonies | Broadcast bait |
| Detention ponds and back edges | Low traffic | Broadcast bait, lower priority |
| Around electrical boxes | Ants damage equipment | Mound treatment and checks |
Common questions
When is the best time to treat fire ants in North Texas?
Spring and fall, when the ground is warm and the ants are actively foraging. Broadcast bait on a dry day with no rain or irrigation coming right after.
How long does fire ant bait take to work?
Anywhere from days to several weeks, depending on the product. Bait is slower than a mound treatment because the ants have to carry it back and feed it to the queen, but it reaches colonies you can’t see.
Why do fire ant mounds keep coming back?
Usually because only the visible mounds were treated, so the colony survived and moved. Broadcasting bait over the whole area is what brings the population down.
Does my landscaper need a license to treat fire ants?
In Texas, yes. Anyone applying pesticides on your property for pay has to be licensed through the Texas Department of Agriculture, so ask who on the crew holds the license and whether they keep application records. Sage and Stone Landscapes has a Licensed Chemical Applicator on staff and keeps those records on file.
We use both halves: preventive treatments across the property and topical treatments on active mounds. Fire ants are part of our turf, weed and fire ant program for HOAs, office parks, retail centers and churches. If you’re tired of chasing mounds, request a proposal.