Gardening

[Erin]

I know ants provide soil aeration due to their underground tunnels, but are there drawbacks to having an abundance of ants in the garden? My greenhouse beds are full of them and while my plants and sprouts don’t seem to be negatively affected by them, I’m curious about the experience of some of the more seasoned gardeners in this group. Thanks!

Discussion

[Hulda]

If you don’t got no aphids being transported and harvested by them ants, sounds like ya got yerself a heap o’ aeration helpers!

[Lois Pratt]

I have the same problem this year and new issue in the garden! Just this morning, I spread diatomaceous earth around outside. Inside my green house, I use the combination of Borax, sugar and water on cotton balls and the ants come drink it. It took care of the aphid problem very well by slowing down the ants.

[Steven]

Not an experienced gardener by any means, but my take on the ants is that they are neither friend nor foe. They just are. Just like everything else is. There’s a reason nature put them there, at this time and place, they have a job to do for the soil and surrounding life. If they aren’t hurting anything, I’d let them be! If they are hurting something, I’d say finding out what their purpose for being there is, and change that condition. Just like everything else in nature, you cant “get rid of them,” you can only reroute them!

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by  Steven.

[Author]

Replies