How Do You Get Rid Of Ants In A Sandbox?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:52 pm

In the sandbox you do not really want to find anything except the sand and the appropriate forms of play. Children should let off steam there and play undisturbed.

This light-heartedness is quickly over if ants make themselves felt. The sandbox is a popular retreat for all kinds of insects. But once ants have formed a nest there, it takes a lot of effort to rid the sandbox of the little animals.

How Do You Get Rid Of Ants In A Sandbox?

What can you do against the ants in the sandbox and how do you prevent a new infestation?

Is there any danger from the ants in the sandbox?


Ants are often found in the garden. Individual scouts or flying ants settle there because the food supply is large and the number of natural predators is low.

If the ants find their way to the sandbox, they can form a nest there as well. Within a few days, the colony grows and is teeming with ants. If your child wants to play, the ants crawl across the sand and interrupt the fun.

Ameisen im Sandkasten gefährlich

Fortunately, for the health of your child, most ants are considered to be of little threat. If it is the general Lasius Niger, a black path ant, it is completely harmless. This one is not equipped with a stinger and does not go on the attack.

This is somewhat different with the more aggressive red garden ant. This ant has a poisonous sting, which is used in some situations. If the ant feels threatened, it stings and as a result an unpleasant pain sets in. The venom causes a reaction similar to the touch of a stinging nettle.

For most people, the sting is unpleasant and painful, but poses no health risk. Only in exceptional cases could an allergic reaction occur, similar to a wasp sting. Then immediate countermeasures are necessary to prevent more serious consequences.

Since ants in the sandbox are considered a nuisance and in some cases cause painful reactions, it is advisable to remove them. Proceed as early as possible so that the effort is limited.

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Why do ants nest in the sandbox?


If the sandbox is located in the garden, you might wonder why the ants have chosen this particular place. After all, the animals could also build a nest in the ground and grow into a larger colony there.

The sandbox offers some advantages for ants, so it seems logical that new colonies settle there.

This is the case, for example, if you use a cover for the sandbox. With the cover or a simple tarp, you protect the sand from the elements. However, the waterproofing is not so precise that ants are kept away from the sandbox. If individual animals stray into the sandbox, the cover provides excellent protection for the new colony from the weather and predators.

The cover also changes the properties of the sand. It is more humid and gives ants a better opportunity to build tunnels there. In the usual dry quartz sand, the ant can hardly settle down, because the stability for the permanent construction of the colony is missing. Thanks to the higher humidity under the tarpaulin, the tunnels no longer collapse and the ant nest is preserved permanently.

How to fight the ants?


Ants feel safe in the sandbox and go on forays from there, for example, to find food sources on the terrace or in the kitchen. If you want to stop this, there are several ways to fight the ants. Below you will find a selection of the most effective methods, which sustainably drive away the ants.

Relocate ant nest


A simple and animal-friendly variant is to relocate the ants’ nest. To do this, fill a flower pot or other container with wood wool. Place the container near the colony with the opening facing the ground.

After a few hours the first ants should explore the new home. After a few days, the queen and thus the entire colony should also be in the pot. Now you can place it far away from the sandbox, so that the ants get a new place. The advantage is that you do not kill the ants and they go about their useful tasks for the ecosystem. However, some patience may be required until the ants can be persuaded to move.

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Poison against the ants


If the possibility for relocation is not given, you can act against the animals with an ant poison. For this purpose, you can set up ant traps that are equipped with an active ingredient that kills the ants with a time delay. The small traps are only accessible to the ants and not to children or pets. The time-delayed action ensures that the poison reaches the nest and kills the entire colony there. As a result, it is not expected that ants will continue to multiply and soon show up in greater numbers in the sandbox again.

The effect of ant bait usually occurs after a few days. To act immediately against the ants, you can use a special spray. This is equipped with a poison that immediately kills the ants. If you discover an ant, the spray is a good choice to immediately contain the infestation. However, this way you do not fight the nest. It is not a long-term effect and the ants will keep reappearing.

To control the ants in the long term, only the ant traps with a delayed poison are recommended.

Replace the sand

Sandkasten Sand austauschen

If you are unable to locate the nest and the ants keep reappearing, you should completely replace the sand once. Empty the entire sandbox and eventually you will find out where the ants had nested.

Clean the sandbox thoroughly and fill it with the new play sand. Then nothing will stand in the way of playing and the ants will be expelled from the sandbox.

Prevent a new ant infestation


Once the ants in the sandbox have been controlled, this does not mean that the animals will hold back in the future and will not visit this place again. If the sandbox continues to have ideal conditions for the ants, it is only a matter of time before a new colony settles in. Therefore, you should implement the following measures to keep the ants away in the future.

Weed fleece


The ants enter the sandbox through the surrounding area. To do this, they often create tunnels nearby and slowly work their way up to the sandbox. To prevent this, it is advisable to use a weed fleece. This is placed under the sandbox, so that there is no access for the ants. Another advantage is that weeds and other insects are also held back.

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Open cover


Another tip is to use a breathable or open cover. If you are concerned with keeping out cats or other animals, you can use a fine mesh vole wire. This will effectively prevent entry and moisture will not collect in the sandbox. Ants are less attracted to the sandbox.

Keep the sandbox free of ants


Your child will probably not enjoy it much if the sandbox has to be shared with other insects, such as the ant. The ants are hardly dangerous directly, but probably few children would like the small animals to walk on you. In addition, the ants can get from the sandbox to the terrace or into the house. To prevent this from happening, it is a good idea to fight the ants in the sandbox as early as possible.

Follow the tips presented here, so that the ants disappear from the sandbox and stay away permanently.

Author

  • James Jones

    Meet James Jones, a passionate gardening writer whose words bloom with the wisdom of an experienced horticulturist. With a deep-rooted love for all things green, James has dedicated his life to sharing the art and science of gardening with the world. James's words have found their way into countless publications, and his gardening insights have inspired a new generation of green thumbs. His commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship shines through in every article he crafts.

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