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Ants in flower bed

  • 22-06-2017 11:44am
    #1
    benny79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,201 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    I noticed lately that there is a load of ants in my newly planted flower bed.. Should I leave them alone or would they cause a problem to the plants?.. I noticed them all over my apple blossom tree in particular which is only about 2 1/2 foot at the moment. As on the leaves and branches.

    My flower bed is about 2 ft wide x 12ft long and they seem to in it from top to bottom, not just at one end if that matters


Comments

  • #2
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    I have never had a problem because of ants in the garden. Indeed, I enjoy watching them.


  • #3
    GrumpyMe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    benny79 wrote: »
    ... I noticed them all over my apple blossom tree in particular which is only about 2 1/2 foot at the moment. As on the leaves and branches...

    Ants usually travel up plants to "milk" the aphids. A symbiotic relationship. Are the leaves sticky - aphids secrete honeydew.
    http://tinyurl.com/yao3v9wz

    Clear the aphids and the ants will look elsewhere.

    Don't think ants do damage to plants themselves.


  • #4
    benny79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,201 ✭✭✭benny79


    Cheers Guys

    I leave mother nature alone so :D


  • #5
    Hocus Focus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 755 ✭✭✭Hocus Focus


    The ants actually gather the aphids from wherever they can find them and locate them on succulent plants, or weak ones, and take the honeydew fluid from them. It's a kind of insect slavery/trafficking situation:)


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