Ants bring many benefits to your garden. However, they can also cause problems. Here you can find out when a heavy visit of ants on potatoes is harmful and how you can fight the ants on potatoes.
Are ants harmful to potatoes and how do you fight them?
Ants are not fundamentally harmful to potatoes, but they can promote aphid infestation. To combat ants in potato beds, you can flood or relocate ant nests and use plants or scents that keep ants away, such as thyme, lavender oil or lemon peel.
Are ants harmful to potatoes?
Ants arebasically beneficial insects that strengthen the ecological balance. Among other things, the animals remove organic garden waste. They contribute somewhat to decomposition and loosen the soil beneath plants. The activity of natural waste removal improves the soil and thus also promotes the growth of potatoes. Some species of ants even eat caterpillars that would otherwise eat plants. However, ants can also contribute to the spread of an existing aphid infestation. If they build their nests under plants, their roots get problems.
What do I do about an ant nest in the potato patch?
You can eitherfloodthe ant nest several times or thisrelocateWhen flooding, it is best to use plant manure. This acts as fertilizer for the plants on site. However, the smell has an extremely deterrent effect on the ants. Treat the nest over a large area. If the nest is small, you also have the option of relocating the ants from the bed using a clay pot.
When do ants indicate aphid infestation on potatoes?
If ant trails form and thepotato leaves are stuck together, the plant has been attacked by the aphid. This secretes honeydew. This is a sticky substance that tastes sweet to ants and is high on their menu. Ants take care of the pest and protect it from enemies such as ladybugs. They colonize and milk aphids. In this way, ants contribute to the rapid spread of aphids. Sticky leaves slow down the potato's metabolism and damage the plant.
How do I treat potatoes with ants and aphid infestation?
Spray the potato with a strong jet of water and use asoft soap solution with a little neem oil (€17.00 at Amazon). Treat the potato leaves several times with the soft soap solution. Once the aphids are gone, there won't be as many ants appearing on your potatoes.
How do I keep ants away from potatoes?
You can plant targeted plants against ants in your potato bed or apply substances with deterrentodors. This will keep ants away:
- Thyme
- Wormwood
- tansy
- Mint
The smell of these products also has an unpleasant effect on ants. You can apply the funds in the bed or use them to demarcate it:
- Lemon peel or lemon oil
- Cinnamon
- Vinegar
- Lavender oil
Tip
Use baking soda against acute infestation
Baking soda is also a natural killer. However, this will give the animals a painful death and will not deter trailing ants.
