Ants do many useful things in the garden. If they literally populate an olive tree, that can also cause problems. Here you can find out when you should react and how to fight ants on the olive tree.
How can you control and prevent ants on olive trees?
Ants on olive trees can be harmful if they support aphids or have a nest in the root area. To combat them, we recommend flooding the nest, relocating or using nettle manure. Companion plants such as lavender and thyme or essential oils help preventively.
Are ants harmful to an olive tree?
Only when there is aaphid infestationor aant nest in the root area do the animals become harmful to the olive tree. Otherwise, the animals also do a lot of useful work. For example, they remove small garden waste and improve soil conditions. If ant trails form on the olive tree and aphids gain a foothold on the plant, this can damage the plant. The pests slow down the plant's metabolism and promote fungal attack. In these cases, you should take action against the ants with a suitable home remedy.
How do I get rid of an ant nest under the olive tree?
You canflood the nest multiple timesorrelocate the animals. You can easily relocate smaller nests in particular at the roots of the olive tree:
- Fill flower pot with wood wool.
- Put the pot over the nest.
- Weigh down the drain hole with stone.
- Let stand for a week.
- Push the spade under the pot.
- Put the ant nest in a new location.
For flooding, use water or plant manure. Plant manure also deters ants by smell. Flood the nest several times. Then it gets too wet for the animals and they move.
What do I do against ants on the olive tree?
You can use plant manure such asStinging nettle manure against ants. If the ants climb on the leaves of the olive tree, you should first check the tree or potted plant for a scale insect or aphid infestation. If you notice a sticky residue on the leaves, this is an indication of aphids. You should take your own measures against the louse. You can scare the ants away with nettle spray. Spray the olive several times with it.
How do I keep ants away from the olive tree?
You can prevent ants on the olive tree with the appropriatecompanion plantingor with essentialoils. The following plants keep ants away from the olive tree with their scent:
- Thyme
- Wormwood
- tansy
- Lavender
These substances also work against ants if you spray or scatter them at the location of the olive tree:
- Lavender oil
- Lemon peel
- Cinnamon
Tip
Baking soda acts as a natural exterminator
Do you have an acute ant infestation on the olive tree and would you like to intervene as quickly as possible? Then first rinse the tree with a jet of water and use baking soda. The baking soda is deadly. However, you should be aware that you are destroying the beneficial insects. In addition, you do not keep the animals that follow the ant trail away from the olive tree.
