Should I Kill Ants in my Garden?
As an agronomist and pest controller I insist you should not kill ants in the garden just because they are there. A small nest at the edge of the garden is not a health or safety issue. Killing ants without a real reason only gives a false sense of control. The answer changes only when ants escape population control or invade spaces where they don’t belong.
A nest in the garden is not a problem
Whether your garden is 10 square meters or 100,000, a single ant nest in the soil does not threaten you. As a field professional this is my job, but I do not intervene in these cases. There is no reason to wipe out a nest that stays in its place and does not cause damage.
Ants in the garden:
Do not affect human health
Do not create a safety risk
Do not justify chemical intervention on their own
Killing them “just in case” is pointless.
Ants play a useful role in the ecosystem
Ant activity improves the garden in ways most people don’t notice:
They dig tunnels that aerate and loosen the soil
They improve water absorption around plant roots
They recycle nutrients by breaking down dead insects and organic matter
Some species help spread seeds, supporting plant growth
They prey on other insects and help keep populations balanced
From an ecological perspective, ants are workers, not enemies.
When ants become a real problem
Ants stop being “neutral” when their population explodes or when they cross boundaries.
They are a problem when they:
Enter the house
Invade foundations or structural elements
Climb walls and form visible trails
Reach food storage areas
Damage roots by cutting them to build tunnels
Disrupt airflow around roots, causing plant dehydration
Remove newly planted seeds to eat them
At this point, it’s no longer about coexistence. It’s about control.
Hidden damage many people don’t expect
Ants can indirectly harm plants by farming aphids and scale insects. They protect the aphids from predators so they can feed theirsleves on the honeydew the aphids produce. This behavior increases plant stress and damage, even if the ants themselves are not directly feeding on the plant. On the other hand if wood-destroying ants are present near wooden structures, decks, or houses, there is no debate—this must be addressed immediately.
Management, not extermination
Again, if someone ask himself "should I Kill Ants in my Garden?" what he should think first if he can say that the ant populations get out of control. If the answer is yes then the intervention may be necessary. But the goal is management, not total elimination.
Total eradication is:
Anti-ecological
Technically unrealistic
Ethically questionable
The correct approach is to reduce pressure where ants cause damage, not to wipe them out from the environment.
What matters before taking action
The real question is not “do I see ants?”
It is:
Are they causing structural, plant, or indoor problems?
Have they crossed into spaces meant to stay clean and controlled?
If not, leave them alone.
If yes, act with restraint, logic, and responsibility.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Pest control laws and approved chemicals vary by country. For best results and legal safety, we strongly recommend contacting a licensed pest control professional in your local area. Always make sure that the pest control technician is properly certified or licensed, depending on your country’s regulations. It’s important to confirm that they only use approved products and apply them exactly as instructed on the product label. In most places in Europe, the UK, or the USA, following label directions is not just best practice—it’s the law.
Author
Nasos Iliopoulos
BSc Agronomist & Certified Pest Control Expert
Scientific Director – Advance Services (Athens, Greece)
Licensed Pest Control Business – Ministry of Rural Development & Food (GR)
