Ants should not need management in turfgrass, as they do not harm the grass and, when nests are abundant, may just be an indicator that the turf has thinned (prior to ant nesting) or that the soil is easily excavated and to their linking. If anything, their tunneling is likely improving the drainage and root zone aeration of the soil, which would benefit grass roots. Ants also hunt other insects as prey, so are a great form of natural pest control for turfgrass insect pests like sod webworm and fall armyworm.

If a nuisance in certain areas due to ants climbing over people's legs if out enjoying the yard, you would ordinarily be able to try outdoor-rated ant bait stations, but those might be prohibited by the Montgomery County law that regulates pesticide use on lawns. (Since bait stations are self-contained and not applied to the lawn itself, we are not certain if they would be exempt. You can contact county government for clarification in that case. The language on their website implies that "biting or stinging insects" can still be addressed as an exemption to the law.)

Aside from bait stations, we do not recommend use of a broadcast pesticide alternative, both because they would not likely work well for this situation, and because they could impact more organisms than just the ants. Extension doesn't collect information about product options, nor do we recommend particular brands, but there are numerous ant-targeting insecticides on the market. Baits can be hit-or-miss in terms of success since ants can vary their dietary requirements depending on the colony's needs, ranging from interest in fat-, sugar-, or protein-based foods that the bait is made with.

Miri