| Hi I wanted to know what I can do to get rid of ants that keep climbing up my peach tree and eating the leaves, also how do I keep them off of my artichoke plant they keep going inside of the vegatable itself. |
| The ants are going into your peach tree because of the sweet sap it is oozing. They find it irresistable. To stop them, you'll need to put a sticky trap at the base of your tree. Use flexible tree wrap (crepe paper looking) and wrap it around the base of your tree then smear Tanglefoot (a sticky substance) on the tree wrap. As ants try to climb up the tree trunk they will get stuck in the Tanglefoot. You'll need to replace the wrap and the Tanglefoot when it gets filled with ants. Ants are probably nursing aphids in your artichoke plants. When aphids feed they exude a sticky substance called honeydew. The ants herd the aphids, stroking their bodies so they'll exude even more honeydew (which the ants feed upon). To deter the ants, you'll need to eliminate the aphids. Insecticidal soap works well. Once the aphids are gone, the ants won't be interested in your artichokes. Best wishes with your garden! |
