Creepy crawlies
Q My dad’s lawn has ant hills that get worse every year. This is making the ground very uneven.
Can we do anything?
A The social communities of ants are an important part of the complex ecosystem underground. Busy ants are effective gardeners themselves, turning over as much soil as earthworms do, helping to aerate soil and redistribute nutrients. There is no simple way to get rid of them – you may try to disperse mounds (on a dry day) if they are particularly problematic, but this may simply encourage another queen ant to colonise the territory and make it her own. Alternatively, dig under the worst mounds (in winter, when ants are less active), remove excess soil to even out the surface, and then relay turf. The best advice is really to try to tolerate them wherever possible – and see if you can find a green woodpecker to help you!