The answer to 'how often for fire ant control' is that fire ant treatment typically needs to be done 2-3 times per year to effectively control the population. Fire ants are a persistent pest that can quickly re-establish colonies, so regular treatment is required to keep them under control.
The best approach is to apply a fire ant bait product in the spring, summer, and fall when the ants are most active. This helps break the breeding cycle and prevent new mounds from forming. It's also important to treat any new mounds that appear in between the scheduled applications.