Ant condos... bad, good or no difference to conifers?

14 years ago

Recently I've been noticing lots of little 'ant colonies' forming in and around some of my plants, basically ant farms underground where they are tunneling, digging out tiny pieces of sand and dirt and forming little condos down there, some right at the base of some of my conifers.

I know conifers do appreciate fast draining soils but perhaps this could potentially damage them down the road? Anyone else experienced trouble like this or should I just encourage nature and leave them alone?

Asthetically it's so minor I wouldn't care in that regard.

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Comments (6)

rebow
14 years ago
I would leave them becuase they are so good for the soil. You could put a thin, flat piece of slate over them to protect the ants from rain and to conceal the mound. The rock will also keep the ground cooler and moist: good for both ants and trees.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
i have had young plants die in said circ's ...

i am not adverse to chemicals.. and would use a bit of whatever the current derivation of ant dissuaders is on the market ...

a light application of the granular stuff and a good watering .. will encourage them to move on ... or die

I THINK.. the hills can generate heat .. which is not good for small plant roots .... but i aint no ant expert ...

you have way to much invested in these plants.. to not correct the problem ...

BUT... IF YOU SEE THE ANTS ON THE PLANTS .... look for aphids or scale.. both of which are MILKED for honeydew ... also look for the blackening of the lost honeydew on branches below ....

aphids can easily be solved .. but i go systemic on scale ...

have a great day will ....

ken
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barbaraincalif
14 years ago
We hate ants! It has gotten so that if a plant starts looking sickly or dies, 9 times out of 10 there is an ant colony that has made it's home within the roots to blame. I'm all for beneficial insects and organic farming, but there is a big difference between tolerating a bit of plant injury or plant death. Once the plant dies you've got nothing to work with; in agriculture especially that is not acceptable.

My view is controversial I know, but get rid of the ants Will! And if anyone out there has a good ant killing product please let me know what it is.

Barbara
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
barb said: My view is controversial

NO IT IS NOT ...

kill them.. kill them now.. kill them good ...

KILL THEM ..

AND IF YOU SEND ME A SHINY NICKLE I WILL TELL YOU HOW I REALLY FEEL ... lol

THE ONLY ISSUE IS HOW TO DO IT properly .. WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INVASIVE CHEM'S ... usually half or 1/4 of a recommended dose is MORE THAN ENOUGH ....

its only a controversy if you live in CA!!!!! [probably WA too.. lol]

KEN
wisconsitom
14 years ago
Not sure if you should kill the ants or not, but if you elect to do so, synthetic pyrethroids are your best bet. Relatively benign to off-target insects, these are applied as a soil drench. Don't get any in your eyes! You won't like that.

+oM
firefightergardener
Original Author
14 years ago
First of all, out of the hundreds of plants I've put into the ground the last six months, only about a dozen or so specimens have condos so far. That said, maybe ants expand like people and I could have a full fledge megatropolis soon.

I know the cats enjoy them and they aren't dangerous or agressive stinging types. I am curious what is going to happen to them on a rainy day - or perhaps they know it's now the dry season.

I will be completely against any kind of pesticides or other people created chemicals until I begin to lose plants. My garden is full of frogs, dragonflies, bees and butterflies and I'd prefer not to risk killing some of the other beneficial types of insects.

I am for sure not worried about some of my more established specimens. They are thick underneath a specimen of Pinus contorta 'Taylors Sunburst' that I've had for a couple years. I just worry that some of the other new little guys I've planted won't be able to retain enough moisture with the ground being so porous.

Here's a couple photos.

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Ant condos... bad, good or no difference to conifers?

Comments (6)

rebow

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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barbaraincalif

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Ant condos... bad, good or no difference to conifers?

Comments (6)

rebow

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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barbaraincalif

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

wisconsitom

firefightergardenerOriginal Author

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firefightergardener
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