Fire ants are active in Central Texas pretty much year-round, but some times of year are a lot better for treating them than others.
Spring and fall are the sweet spots
Fire ants forage hardest when soil temperatures are mild, which around here means spring and fall. That’s when a whole-yard treatment gets picked up and carried back to the colonies fastest. Treating in spring knocks them down before summer, and a fall treatment helps keep new mounds from showing up after the winter.
In the middle of summer, when it’s over 100 degrees, fire ants dig deeper and forage early and late in the day, so results can be slower. After a big rain, you’ll often see mounds pop up everywhere at once. That’s a good reminder to get on a schedule.
Why treating mounds one by one doesn’t work
A yard can have dozens of colonies, and most of them don’t have a big visible mound. When you treat one mound, the ants often just move a few feet over. Broadcasting a treatment across the whole yard and the flower beds gets the colonies you can’t see.
What we recommend
For most homes, an annual program that covers the whole yard is the most effective and the least hassle. Ours comes with a one-year guarantee. Learn more on our fire ant treatment page.
Need help? Request service online or call (737) 420-7691. Osborne Pest Control is locally owned, with no contracts.
Posted on November 06, 2026 in Pest Tips