How to Deal With Ants on Your Peonies
WouterDuring peony season, you may find ants on your flowers. However, ants are not necessary for your peonies to bloom. Instead, they can attract unwanted insects. The best way to deal with ants on your peonies is to find a way to get them to leave.
The ants on peonies are attracted by the sticky sugary nectar that is secreted by the peony buds. They will climb up the stems of the peony to get it. Once the nectar is consumed, the ants will depart.
When you first notice the ants on your peonies, you can use a simple trick to get them off. You can either shake the peony or dip the blossom in water to get them out. The best method is the shaking one.
You can also run your peony buds under warm tap water to get rid of the ants. You may want to spray the flowers with a garden hose, but you want to keep the water at a low setting so you don’t damage the flowers.
If you really want to get rid of the ants, you can also try shaking the buds. You can also use petroleum jelly to catch the ants. Using a peppermint oil solution with water is also a good idea. Adding minced garlic to the solution will hurt the beneficial insects.
If you are going to pick your peonies, make sure that you pick them at the right time. The best time to pick peonies is during the marshmallow bud stage.
