Ants on dahlias are not always a problem. However, excessive numbers of ants crawling on dahlias can indicate problems. Here you can find out how to react and drive the animals away.
How do I remove ants from dahlias?
Ants on dahlias are not generally harmful, but can indicate an aphid infestation. To get rid of ants, plant herbs such as thyme, chervil or lavender, sprinkle cinnamon or seaweed lime and eliminate aphids with a soft soap solution.
Do ants damage dahlias to the plant?
As beneficial insects, ants also bringadvantages for plants. As long as they move around on the ground and clean up garden waste or the ants eat caterpillars on the leaves of the plant, ants on dahlias are definitely a good thing. However, as soon as a whole ant nest settles under the plant or ant trails form towards the dahlia, you should react.
What do many ants on dahlias indicate?
Excessive influx of ants on dahlias is often a signal ofAphid infestation You can find out whether the pests are wreaking havoc on the dahlias by looking at the leaves of the flower. Are they covered in a sticky residue? Then it is honeydew. This is excreted by the louse. Ants feed on this excretion. They milk aphids and protect you from enemies like ladybugs. This causes the aphids to spread further and further. The sticking of the leaves promotes diseases.
What do I do against aphids on dahlias?
Clean the affected dahlias with asoft soap solution. This is how you get rid of the aphids and thus also the cause of the ants on the dahlias:
- Spray plants with water jet.
- Prepare a soft soap solution with a little neem oil.
- Spray several times over plants.
If you use this method to combat aphids for about three weeks, the pests will disappear.
How do I get ants away from dahlias?
Take advantage of the scent ofherbal plants, essential oils and certainspices or sprinkle algae lime. If you plant the following herbs next to the dahlias or place a flower pot or bucket with them in the bed, a smell that is unpleasant for the ants will spread into the area.
- Thyme
- Chervil
- Lavender
You can also sprinkle cinnamon or alkaline substances such as algae lime on the ants' paths. Lime neutralizes formic acid and is therefore not walked on by ants.
What remedies do I use against ants on dahlias?
Use the tried and tested home remedies. They work efficiently and have no disadvantages for your garden. If you use pesticides against the animals instead, you will spread harmful substances in your garden. Some gardeners also use baking soda to combat ants. This is just an emergency solution. Baking soda is deadly. In addition, baking soda evaporates quickly or is washed away. In this respect, it is not a sustainable means of combating ants.
Tip
Relocating ant nests with a clay pot
You can cover a smaller ant nest with a clay pot. Fill this with wood shavings, then put it over the nest and cover the drainage hole with a stone. After a week, push a spade under the pot and use it to completely relocate the animals.
