Are Peonies Good For Ants?
WouterDuring the peony season, you may have noticed that many ants crawl over the flowers before they open. Some gardeners believe that ants are bad for the plants and should be avoided at all costs. However, this is a myth. ants are not harmful to peonies and can actually be beneficial.
Peonies attract ants because of the sugary nectar produced by their buds. The ants feed on the nectar, and protect the flowers from other pests. They also reinforce the odor trail of the food source so that it is kept safe from other ants.
Although ants are a nuisance, they are not harmful to peonies. They protect the plant from other pests, and help the plant in its fight against sap-sucking insects.
If you find ants on your peonies, you can remove them from the flowers easily. This is especially useful if you’re planning to cut the flowers.
The most effective way to remove ants is to shake the peony flowers. In addition, you can dunk them in water. This will ward off ants and encourage the flower to open.
You can also remove ants by placing the peony buds in warm tap water. This will discourage ants from eating the buds and encourage the bloom to open.
Another method is to mix a solution of peppermint oil and water. This is very effective, but can harm beneficial insects. You should always be careful with insecticides. These chemicals can also affect the soil, water and plants that are sprayed.
