How Can Ants Ruin Your Plants?
WouterDepending on the ant species, ants can be good or bad for your garden. Some ants are helpful and beneficial while others are harmful and destructive.
Ants are natural predators and pollinators. They aerate soil and speed up the decomposition of organic matter. Ants can also aid plant growth by helping to increase the number of nutrients in the soil.
Ants are also beneficial as they can help to control soft-bodied garden pests. For instance, they can destroy aphids. Ants also help protect sucking insects from predators. They help to aerate the soil and transport water to plant roots.
One of the biggest problems with ants is the ants that make their nests beneath your plants. This can damage the root systems and make the plant susceptible to erosion. Depending on the species of ants, ant colonies are a major problem for gardeners.
If you’re seeing an abundance of ants, the best way to get rid of them is to keep your plants clean. You can clean off their nests with white vinegar and water. You can also use a mixture of lemon juice and water to discourage ants. You can also use a mix of borax and honey to spray near ant activity.
In order to get rid of ants, you’ll need to use a sticky barrier to block them from climbing up tree trunks. You’ll also need to check the barrier every week or so. You can use a product like Tanglefoot.
