Ants on the lemon tree: harmful or useful?

Table of contents:

Ants on the lemon tree: harmful or useful?
Ants on the lemon tree: harmful or useful?
Anonim

Individual ants on the lemon tree are not a problem at first. If a whole line of ants climbs up the plant and many animals keep coming to the lemon tree, you should take action.

ants-on-the-lemon-tree
ants-on-the-lemon-tree

How do I get rid of ants on the lemon tree?

Ants on the lemon tree are useful in themselves, but increased infestations can indicate aphids. Remove aphids with a soft soap solution and keep ants away with tea tree oil, cinnamon or vinegar. Prevent ants from climbing the trunk with glue rings.

Are ants harmful to the lemon tree?

Ants themselves are not harmful in themselves, but are actuallyuseful for the citrus plant. The animals are not pests, they loosen the soil. First of all, they ensure that the substrate is better ventilated and water can drain away easily. These properties bring benefits to the roots of the lemon tree. The eager animals also remove organic residues under the citrus tree. For example, they dispose of rotten fruit that falls from the tree and other remains. Think of the animals as a kind of ecological garbage disposal.

What do many ants on the lemon tree indicate?

Excessive ant infestation can indicate aaphid infestation. If there are a lot of ants climbing up the lemon tree, it can be a warning sign that the tree has a problem. The leaves may be populated by aphids or scale insects. This pest is nurtured and cared for by ants. Ants feed on the animal's excrement, the so-called honeydew. The larger the colony of lice becomes, the more the leaves become covered in this sticky residue. This promotes fungal infestation and impairs plant metabolism.

How do I treat a lemon tree with ants?

EliminateUse the aphids to identify thecause of the ant infestation and the ants will also disappear from the lemon tree. Proceed as follows:

  1. Mix a liter of water with a tablespoon of soft soap
  2. Fill the solution into a water spray or spray bottle.
  3. First clean the leaves of smaller plants with a cloth that has been moistened with alcohol.
  4. Spray the lemon tree several times with the solution.

Treat the citrus tree with the solution three times a week for about three weeks.

How do I generally keep ants away from the lemon tree?

It's best to use proven home remedies to combat ants. For example, you can spread one of the following substances near the plant:

  • Tea tree oil
  • Cinnamon
  • Vinegar
  • Juniper

All of these things give off an odor that is unpleasant to ants and keeps them away from the lemon tree. If you want to use harder bandages, use baking soda. This is eaten by ants and is then fatal.

How do I stop ants from climbing up the lemon tree?

Apply aglue ring around the trunk of the lemon tree. The ants stick to the glue before they can cross it. This probably won't happen to many animals because the ants then leave the tree. You can easily purchase the glue rings from specialist retailers.

Tip

Avoid chemical control agents

There are also chemical insecticides to combat ants. However, you should avoid these if possible. When they are used, they also spread pollutants into the soil. The harmful substances then spread first in the lemon tree and then in its lemons.

Recommended: