Whether you want to admit it or not, ants have a purpose in the natural world. Their tunneling aerates the soil and carries organic matter underground, and they prey on other insects and provide food for birds and other animals. But we can’t lie: Their behavior of nesting between pavers is exasperating!
No one enjoys the piles of dirt that build up between the pavers on your patio, walk, or driveway. Over time, extensive tunneling can cause the pavers to shift and become uneven, causing a tripping hazard. But can these industrious insects be stopped?
Before you grab a can of ant spray, you need to understand ant biology. “Like wasps and bees, ants live in a social colony with workers and a queen,” says Eric Benson, PhD, professor emeritus and extension entomologist with Clemson University. “You’re dealing with hundreds or thousands of ants beneath your pavers. When you spray, you’re only killing the ants you see, but you’re not getting to the source of the problem.”
Various species may be to blame, but the most common ants that build mounds between pavers are pyramid ants and pavement ants, depending on where you live. Pyramid ants, which are common in the Southeast, actually keep other ants, such as fire ants, away, which is a good thing. Pavement ants can be even more annoying because they’ll also come indoors, says Benson.
The mounding up of dirt between pavers is a common occurrence for homeowners. “Ants love those dry, sandy joints,” says landscape designer Katherine Aul Cervoni, founder of Staghorn NYC and The Cultivation by Kat. “If they find a weak spot between pavers where the sand is failing, they can tunnel right underneath, which causes instability.”
How to keep ants from nesting between pavers
Because there’s a whole ant colony lurking somewhere beneath your walk or patio, you need to get tactical. Here’s what to do.
Put out outdoor ant baits
Place them near the areas where you see foraging ants. These products are liquids or gels set inside an outdoor-safe container. Follow the label instructions, and keep pets and kids away from the baits, says Benson.
The ants will visit, carrying some of the toxic bait back to the colony to share with the babies and queen. Read the label to see how far apart it’s recommended to place the baits. But this is one time you really can’t overdo it. “It’s hard to ‘over-treat’ with baits, and you also have no idea how big the nest is,” says Benson.
Give them lots of options
Place all the purchased baits out at once. They don’t keep well, so you’re better off putting them all out at the same time, rather than saving them for later. You should also replace the baits after about a month, as they tend to evaporate or dry out. “Most insects also like fresh food,” says Benson.
Don’t worry if there’s more activity at first, but you should see a reduction in ants within about a week. If you don’t see any effect, try another brand with different ingredients. Ants prefer different types of foods (protein versus sugars or carbohydrates) throughout the year. The colony also may be huge, so there may not be enough bait to go around, says Benson.
Check for activity
If you do see some knock-back, go ahead and sweep away the mounds. If the mounds recur, you can spot-treat with an ant spray product that has a long, thin tube attached to the nozzle so that you can fit down into the hole and spray. This won’t kill the babies or queen, but it may reduce activity in key spots on the patio. Follow the label instructions carefully, says Benson.
Know when to get help
Once ants appear, you’re not going to eradicate them—nor will you ever stop them from doing what they do naturally! But you should be able to get to an acceptable point of maintenance. If you’re still not at a level of ant activity you can tolerate, contact a licensed pest control professional, says Benson.
Lindsey Nicholson – Getty Images
How to repair damage from ant nests between pavers
The reason ants have tunneled between your pavers is that the sand between them has broken down. This material, known as polymeric sand, has a lifespan of several years if a good-quality product is used and installed correctly. “Over time, exposure to weather, freeze/thaw cycles, and just general wear and tear will cause it to degrade, crack, or wash out, creating channels for weeds or pests like ants to exploit,” says Cervoni.
The good news is that this is a totally DIY-able repair. “You need to clean out the old, compromised sand first. Sometimes pressure washing helps clear it out, or you can use a stiff brush or scraping tool, such as a flat-head screwdriver, for the joints,” says Cervoni. Then sweep in the new polymeric sand and wet it according to the manufacturer’s directions. Cervoni cautions that this is the most critical step, so follow the directions exactly so that it cures properly.
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