With the weather slowly warming up, I am starting to see more and more ants in my garden – not my house (thankfully!). Nevertheless I am already blaming an ant nest for destroying my Euonymus shrub. And, the other day I saw them crawling on my peony plants, which are just coming into bud.
Apparently most ants are actually beneficial to the garden. They can help to aerate the soil through their natural tunnelling movements and the common Garden Ant can kill off caterpillars, which can cause damage to your plants. (I found caterpillars took a great liking to my bay tree last year, virtually destroying all of its leaves!)
But any ant can damage your plants if their colony happens to be directly next to the root system. They can also cause unsightly bald patches in your lawn, as an ant nest can cover patches of grass preventing it from growing properly.
The more sinister sounding Fire Ant can do a lot of damage in a garden and destroy plants by tunnelling through its root system or feeding off young buds or even nutritious seeds. These ants will bite you too, which can cause allergic reactions in some people!
Are ants as damaging to a garden as moles?
Debatable. Moles probably create much larger tunnels potentially creating a greater mess of your lawn and flower beds. They also feed off worms, which any keen gardener knows are very good for the soil. I would also argue they are more difficult to get rid of…it’s not as if you can use a spray on them!
On the other hand, if ants happen to destroy an expensive plant you have just brought at the garden centre, then you would say that is very damaging too. But if all they are doing is crawling along your plants minding their own business, then they are quite harmless.
How to get rid of ants is seemingly a very common Google search (as covered in a fleas, ants and acne post) and if you are facing an ant invasion, then all of a sudden ants become a major pest. In this case, more professional ant control or DIY products may be necessary. General plant maintenance for the control of aphids and other plant insects will also help, as the natural secretion of aphids is a major attractant to ants.
For a more organic approach, I have read that spraying apple cider vinegar in the garden can act as a deterrent – ants hate vinegar apparently. Who would have guessed it?
Very nice article. Moles have the advantage that they also feed on the larvae of cockchafers, which destroy the roots of some plants, so they are somewhat beneficial. However, I have to agree they can really mess up the lawns
The British Traditional Molecatchers Register is a web based register of British Molecatchers who only use traditional methods. It helps those with a Mole problem in paddock, field, garden or smallholding to find a TRADITIONAL Molecatcher in their area. – Not always easy these days.
There is no charge for using the website and finding a Traditional Molecatcher in your area is easy. When you have found one feel free to contact them and mention that you got their details from British Traditional Molecatchers Register.
The arrangement for any work you may wish them to do will be at a financial arrangement between you and the Molecatcher direct. You can, however, be sure that any Molecatcher that is on our register will use only Traditional Methods of Molecatching.
The website contains much background information on Moles and Molecatchers and also details of our Training courses.
Responding to: “have read that spraying apple cider vinegar in the garden can act as a deterrent – ants hate vinegar apparently. Who would have guessed it?”
As odd as it may seem, apple cider vinegar is a pretty common natural remedy… I have heard a 50/50 ratio of vinegar to water or just straight vinegar. Great Post!
Ant Guy say: apple cider vinegar is a pretty common natural remedy… I have heard a 50/50 ratio of vinegar to water or just straight vinegar.
Thanks i’m going to try this.