Ants are very useful for your garden. However, if there are excessive numbers of ants on sage, it can indicate problems. Here you can find out when and how to react.
Why are there ants on sage and how to get rid of them?
Ants on sage are not directly harmful to the plant, but a heavy infestation can indicate aphids that can damage the sage. To eliminate them, use a soft soap solution and keep ants away with scents such as thyme, marjoram or lavender.
Are ants harmful to sage plants?
Ants themselves arenot harmful for sage. They don't eat the plant. By cleaning and loosening the soil from garden waste, you can even help improve the site. In addition, species of ants such as the red wood ant destroy some caterpillars that damage plants. If the ants are on the ground around the sage and move sporadically on sage, this is not immediately a cause for concern. If a lot of ants are constantly crawling on sage leaves, things look different.
What do many ants indicate on sage?
Excessive ant traffic on sage, combined with sticky leaves, can indicate an aphid infestation. The aphid excretes a sticky, sweet residue that is on the menu of ants. This so-called honeydew hinders the plant's metabolism and increases the risk of fungal attack. Ants cultivate the pest and milk the louse. As a result, the infestation spreads. This results in the problems mentioned. That's why you should take action against it.
How do I get rid of ants from sage?
Spray the animals with water and treat the lavender with asoft soap solution. This home remedy works effectively against aphids without leaving any pollutants behind:
- First spray the leaves with a strong jet of water to roughly rinse off animals.
- Dissolve 1 teaspoon of soft soap and some neem oil in 1 liter of water.
- Spray sage plants with it.
Use this method every few days for three weeks. Then all the aphids should be gone and with them the ants on the sage.
How can I keep ants away from sage in the future?
Keep the ants away withfragrances which are deterrent to the animals. In principle, you can also use baking soda to combat ants. However, this agent is often fatal to those ants that eat it. The following herbs with essential oils and odorants effectively keep the beneficial insects away without destroying them straight away:
- Thyme
- Marjoram
- Lavender
- Cinnamon
- Vinegar extract
You can also distribute a decoction of tansy on site. The smell of this product has an unpleasant effect on ants.
How do I break ant trails on sage leaves?
Use dusty substances with a basic pH value such as algae lime. These materials neutralize formic acid. Ants do not enter sprinkled areas. If you draw a line of algae limestone over existing ant trails, you will cut off the path of trailing ants. This method is suitable for preventing additional ants on sage or protecting a bed.
Tip
Use natural enemy
Unlike ants, there are also animals that eat aphids. Ladybugs and small lacewings on sage are therefore your allies. They destroy the louse and also have an indirect effect against ants on sage.