Are Ants Bad For Trees?
WouterDepending on how you look at it, ants are either bad for trees or good for them. Generally, you will find that ants are a good friend to trees, but they can be a big problem for the tree if they are allowed to. If you find that your tree is infested, you may want to do something about it.
Generally, the best way to protect your tree from ants is to remove them. These insects tend to invade trees when they are looking for honeydew. They can also damage the bark and cause disease. To get rid of them, you can use a horticultural insecticide or a peppermint oil solution.
You can also use a sticky material to catch ants as they enter the tree. You can paint this sticky material on the tree wrap. This should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is still sticky. You can also reapply it after rains to keep ants from getting into it.
You can also protect young trees from ants by wrapping them in fabric or duct tape. You can also spray the tree with ant powder, which is effective at killing ants.
Some people think that ants are bad for trees because they destroy the bark. This is false. Normally, ants do not damage the bark of the tree. However, when they gnaw the bark all the way around the tree trunk, it can cause the tree to die.
