Girard on Girard

Research shows that over ten thousand ant species exist today. However, only twenty-five of the total creeper population invades homes. The insects do so because of their socialistic tendencies. 

Besides, they love spaces with ample security and easy access to food and water. Trespassing, therefore, promotes colony expansion. But what breeds are you likely to bump into on your way home?

The Major Culprits 

Ants live in communities. One leads the way, and the rest follow. In the real sense, you might have spotted a ton of these on your kitchen sink. But did you know that ants also range in size?

According to research, most species measure one-twelve of an inch to an inch long. Some creepers also fly while others do not. Common examples include:

• Odorous house ants
• Pavement ants
• Ghost ants
• Carpenter ants
• Rover ants
• Argentine ants
• Fire ants 
• Crazy ants

In brief, the insects are small but never go unnoticed. They even leave a scent trail that lures more insects out of the colony. 

But What Attracts These Insects To Your Premise?

The insects are fond of human food. They find sugary items irresistible, and a jar full of jelly, honey, candy, or syrup never goes unnoticed. Greasy plates or proteinous diets are also an ant magnet. They attract the creepers in their vast numbers because of the nourishment they bring.

The creepers also build colonies around water sources to keep themselves hydrated during summer and winter. A leaky cistern might, therefore, be the reason ants find your bathroom heavenly!

Ants also love it when you make the indoor environment habitable for them. They move in to escape the summer heat and winter cold. Excess rain might also encourage relocation. As you can see, ants love comfort. They would never hesitate from invading your privacy to find a few grubs. But do ants eat grass?

Lifting the Veil

An ant invasion might leave you wondering if the insects are any good for your lawn. Recall, they leave dead grass patches on the lawn. But that does not mean they feed on the grass. 

In the real sense, only the Leaf Cutter ant carries grass leaves to produce more food for the colony. It takes advantage of the leave’s structure to grow fungus for added nutrition. Heck, they are small agriculturalists!

Other ant species, on the other side, are fond of taking grass seeds with them. They eat the seeds because they are tasty, and by doing so, reduce your chances of growing new grass. You must, therefore, find suitable ways of protecting your lawn from an ant invasion. 

Mitigation Measures

How to Eliminate Zoysia Grass from Your Lawn

As you well know, ants can hurt you bad. You must, therefore, eliminate them from your house and yard before the situation worsens. But how do you achieve the above? It’s simple. You can repel the creepers from the grass seed bag by:

Sifting Through the Chaff

You must go through the contents in the bag and eliminate all intruders. Besides, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the ground forces. Last, you must store the uncontaminated elements in a sealable container to prevent future attacks.

Caulking up the Storage Area

Ants hide in crevices. You must, therefore, fill in these spaces with caulk to destroy existing colonies. Caulking also prevents the hidden creepers from accessing your package. Lastly, you must vacuum the storage area and burn the contaminated elements. 

Cleaning the Store Room with Detergent

Scouting ants leave a scent trail, and that is when their cousins invade your space. That said, you must clean the hot-spots with some scented detergent and water. The combo not only sterilizes your storage area, but it also disorients the aliens. 

Baiting the Hostile Forces

Let’s face it. The complete annihilation of an ant colony is not possible. The insects are so many that you may not kill all of them at a go. You must, therefore, use other elimination methods and baiting tops on the list. 

All you must do is mix the contaminated grass seeds with poison. You should then store the mixture in reusable plastic bags to attract the “hiding” ants. Disposal should only happen after all the invaders are dead. You can repeat the process weekly to keep your store safe and clean.

Conclusion

Ants are a spectacle. They prefer homes to the wild, and here is why. Houses provide the creepers with unprecedented levels of comfort. Remember, they can access food and water with ease. More so, homes offer adequate shelter during summer or winter. 

An ant invasion is, therefore, imminent under such circumstances. Some ant species also find lawns ideal because of the grass leaves.

Leaves come in handy during fungal cultivation exercises. On the contrary, other breeds eat grass seeds because of the nourishment they bring. As a result, they degrade the lawn making it unsightly. Containment is, therefore, necessary. 

More than twelve thousand grass species exist today. However, it is only the Zoysia grass that can withstand high temperatures, drought, and physical abuse caused by walking, including many other challenges.

But how do you differentiate Zoysia grass from other plants in its cluster?

Grass Attributes

Well, Zoysia grass

• Spreads into dense undergrowth
• Grows into a vast network of stolons and rhizomes
• Has a distinct green color that changes to brown during winter
• Has a deep root system

It is, therefore, beyond the shadow of a doubt that Zoysia grass is resistant to the weather. But is it any good for your lawn? Let’s find out.

Effects of Having Zoysia Grass in the Yard

Zoysia is a popular grass in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. In reality, it is one species used to manicure golf courses and lawns, and here is why. First, the grass requires little to no maintenance. Zero maintenance compounds to more financial power.

Second, Zoysia flourishes in many environments and remains unaffected by weather changes. The species also remains unaffected by weeds and diseases. Above all, the plant has an unmatched aesthetic appeal. 

The species can, however, become a pain in the neck. It does not stay green all year round. Recall, Zoysia turns brown during winter, something that makes the lawn undesirable. Besides, Zoysia seeds are hard to find making propagation an uphill task. Last, the grass takes longer to grow and dense out. 

The Elimination Process

In brief, cultivating the plant is not worth the hassle. You must, therefore, learn how to get rid of zoysia grass using the following steps.

Bake the Grass to a Pulp

Are you looking for a cheap and reliable solution to the zoysia menace? Well, the sun might be your only way out. All you must do is water the vegetation to a depth of one foot and cover the grass with a one-millimeter tarp. 

You need a thin tarp because it lets the hit in fast. Thicker covers are, however, recommended for windy areas. Last, you must suspend tarp edges with rocks to prevent the heat from escaping. For the record, solarization works fast and can destroy the grass is as few as eight weeks.

Invite the Darkness

Zoysia cannot grow when there is too much heat or darkness. That said, you must cover the grass with an impervious layer of organic matter throughout the day. Old newspapers can help you on this one. 

Newspapers block the sun’s rays from reaching the plants underneath. They then kill the plants and even speed up their decomposition. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

Clip the Grass Out

Do you love getting your hands dirty? Cutting Zoysia using a high-tech clipper is not only exciting but also fulfilling. It is a superb activity that takes your body to the limit. 

But there is a catch. You must cut the roots out to ensure that the grass does not re-grow. Next, you need a gardening fork to excavate the hidden root fragments. 

However, remember that clipping is a continuous process. You must, therefore, devote two or three hours a week to ensure no Zoysia grass cuttings are growing back. Raking also keeps the garden in shape. 

Administer Fungicides

Chemicals are not ideal for the ground. They might, however, become your only option when the “safer” techniques fail. For instance, Glyphosate is a herbicide developed to combat Zoysia grass numbers. 

The product, once obtained from the local horticulture store, must get administered according to manufacturer specifications. Spraying is an ideal way of delivering the product. Dosing, however, must be consistent to ensure full containment of the Zoysia species.

According to experts, zoysia undergrowth can be quite elusive. It is, therefore, essential that you water the cut-down area for a week or two to see if anything grows. You must then destroy new seedlings with any of the methods outlined earlier to keep the lawn clean. Integrating these techniques also helps. 

Conclusion

There is no speck of doubt that Zoysia is a highly resilient plant. It grows under some of the harshest weather conditions on the planet, and even withstands a lot of physical torment. But even then, the vegetation remains green and appealing to the eye.

Zoysia, however, tarnishes during winter, turning into a brown pulp. It makes a once desirable lawn unsightly, hence the need to exterminate its growth. Eliminating the plant is, however, a mammoth task, which is why you must use natural forces like solar glare and darkness to your advantage. 

But there is more. Chemical warfare is an invaluable solution when the grass proves itself troublesome. The use of herbicides should, however, be a matter of last resort, to avoid contaminating groundwater sources.