Ants In My Plants

You see them marching to their little hills, those annoying little ants. You're thinking to yourself, "Put ant spray on the list." But wait...before you decimate that anthill, read this blog!


Ants in your garden can be both beneficial and detrimental. The good news about ants in your garden is that they are predators; they will eat the eggs of many other insect species. They are also prey, and are a food source for birds. lizards, and toads which are all beneficial for your garden. Their tunnels aerate the soil, allowing water and nutrients to flow directly to plant roots. They store seeds in their tunnels, which encourages seed distribution. They are also nature's little composters; they remove dead plants and animals from the soil, which in turn are re-deposited as fertilizer. Some plants, such as peonies, may need ants to encourage flower opening (nobody is really sure if this is a myth or not). Acacia trees are actually protected by ants and will die without them.

Now the bad. Ants will protect the pests that will destroy your plants: mealybugs, aphids, and white flies.

Unless you find detrimental pests or plants that are dying because the ants are too close to their roots, you really shouldn't be worried about ants in your garden. If you notice they are out of control, before buying chemical pesticides, try spraying your plants with a 50/50 solution of apple cider vinegar and water. Ants do not like vinegar and it removes the scent trails that help them navigate their way around.

Happy Gardening!