Content
- Protecting trees from ants - you can do that
- Ants on the tree indicate pest infestation
- Fight against aphids - drive away ants
- What else you can do about the ant plague - and when it is necessary
- Tips
Ants on the tree often indicate an aphid attack
Protecting trees from ants - you can do that
Actually, ants are very beneficial animals in the garden. They keep the soil loose, keep pests at bay and clean up. However, if the arthropods cling to hundreds on a tree, then you should look for the cause of this behavior.
Ants on the tree indicate pest infestation
For ants have no interest in the tree itself, even if they sometimes take a fallen leaf as food or nibble sweet fruits. Instead, the animals have discovered aphids that literally keep them in colonies and milk their sweet excrements - the so-called "honeydew". This in turn represents a valuable source of carbohydrates for ants, which is why the animals are very anxious for the protection and well-being of the aphids. These are protected from predators and can then propagate all the better - which in turn is actually harmful to the tree.
Fight against aphids - drive away ants
Now it is quite easy to expel both the aphids and the ants from the tree. Not even chemical remedies are necessary for this, instead you only need to tip the affected tree regularly and at intervals of a few days with self-prepared nettle. This not only sells the unwanted visitors, but also serves the tree as fertilizer. Nettle plants are made as follows:
Incidentally, it helps to counteract the unpleasant smell with a little bit of rock flour. The broth is only diluted in the ratio of 1 part of manure - 10 parts of water applied.
What else you can do about the ant plague - and when it is necessary
Sometimes, however, behind the numerous ants are no aphids, but other causes. Thus, the animals like to settle in dead or sick parts of the tree - for example, because a tree fungus brings the tissue there to die. With cuffs and glue rings attached around the trunk, you can keep the animals away from the tree.
Tips
If ants build their nest in the roots of the tree, then, depending on the size of the state, this can have dire consequences. Although the animals do not eat the tree, but loosen the soil - which can cause especially in very young trees that he loses his footing.