| Having mulched around my trees with color me red mulch and planting a large group of vincas, impatients, grazda's im afraid my trees and flowers are going to be ruined and eaten alive HELP! HELP! |
| Ants are not usually harmful to plants unless they are literally nesting in the roots and disturbing them. Instead, ants help to aerate the soil and are part of the natural process of decay. Sometimes ants climb onto plants in search of aphids. Aphids are soft bodied sucking insects that attack the newest growth on many plants. If this is the case, removing the aphids will stop the ants. You can knock down the aphids with water from thegarden hose, or insecticidal soap is effective on aphids and widely available. Horticultural oil such as Eco-Oil (sold by Gardens Alive; 812-537-8650) is a relatively safe option too. It doesn't have a long-term effect on beneficials and can be used right up to harvest.They also sell Neem-Away, which kills current resident aphids and repels any others, and is harmless to honeybees, lady beetles and other beneficials. |
