Are ants harmful?
First of all, ants are usually not harmful, even if they have built their nests in the middle of the root system. There is a good reason for this behavior, because ants like dry and bright locations, but need to protect their brood from the blazing sun. For this reason, they can usually be found underground. However, you should be suspicious if the animals suddenly romp around in your flower bed between lupins, sunflowers and roses.
also read
- Protecting Trees From Ants - You Can Do It
- Help, I have ants in the bed!
- Ants on roses - what to do now
Ant plague is often an indicator of aphid infestation
In this case, you should examine the plants very carefully, as colonies of ants are often found near large clusters of colonies of leaf and other plant lice. In particular, the ants keep aphids like pets in order to harvest the sweet honeydew - i.e. their excretions. To this end, they care for the aphids, defend them from predators and ensure that the animals suckle more and thus release even more honeydew. The aphids can be reliably expelled with a powerful jet of water and various household remedies, but you also have to declare war on the ants. Otherwise the aphids will be back quickly.
Drive away ants - Here's how
You don't have to kill the animals right away. Instead, place an upturned clay pot lined with wood wool near the current nest. Experience has shown that the crawlers move in there quickly with their brood, which you can easily observe. When the move is complete, simply slide a board or plate under the pot and move the pot to another location. The animals can settle here again without disturbing a gardener. By the way, you can also drive away ants by making them uncomfortable: The animals like it dry and warm, douse their nest with water, they will flee quickly and look for a more pleasant nesting place.
Tips
Ants can be reliably driven away by certain scents. Lavender and chervil in the flower bed and a mulch blanket mixed with cinnamon prevent the animals from settling in the first place.
