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Ants and milking aphids how do I keep them at bay this year?
dappledshade
Posts: 1,017
Hello All,
Last year, I had quite an infestation of ants in the borders, not a problem as such I thought, but became one when I realised they were relentlessly milking the aphids that had taken a hold on two new apples cordons and one damson, plus on a newly established trachelospermum that nearly died it was so covered...
I tried AntStop baits, but I think it was a bit too little, too late and although the ants decreased, they were still around and milking the aphids.
I don’t spray insecticide in my garden at all, only SB invigorated spray that works very well as a prevention and to keep pests down, but there were too many aphids for that.
I also tried sticky yellow bands around the tree trunks, but the ants just circumnavigate them by getting at the trees from the fencing and wiring above.
What could I do this year and how could I stop this from happening again?
I introduced lots of ladybird larvae in the garden last year, which helped, but the larvae weren’t readily available until the weather was warmer, by which time the ants and aphids had really got a hold.
Last year, I had quite an infestation of ants in the borders, not a problem as such I thought, but became one when I realised they were relentlessly milking the aphids that had taken a hold on two new apples cordons and one damson, plus on a newly established trachelospermum that nearly died it was so covered...
I tried AntStop baits, but I think it was a bit too little, too late and although the ants decreased, they were still around and milking the aphids.
I don’t spray insecticide in my garden at all, only SB invigorated spray that works very well as a prevention and to keep pests down, but there were too many aphids for that.
I also tried sticky yellow bands around the tree trunks, but the ants just circumnavigate them by getting at the trees from the fencing and wiring above.
What could I do this year and how could I stop this from happening again?
I introduced lots of ladybird larvae in the garden last year, which helped, but the larvae weren’t readily available until the weather was warmer, by which time the ants and aphids had really got a hold.
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Posts
They milk the aphids and guard them to keep them alive.
Thank you.
Garden is full of birds, and the tits and wrens love to pick some of them off, but it got out of hand last year with the sheer number of aphids.
Didn't see much ladybird action sadly, in spite of putting out about 100 larvae...they don’t seem to colonise in my garden and I have lots of places incl bug hotels for them to use...what could I do to encourage them more @purplerallim?
I’ve never sprayed with washing up liquid...is it ok to use an eco version?
Normally I use SB Spray, which is plant phenol based and affects the function of aphids, whitefly and other soft bodied pests, very efficiently.
Ive had great results in the past, but last year the aphids got out of hand before I had realised the scale of the problem.
Ive got a ground living bird bath, but the birds here prefer the beach area of my wildlife pond usually.
We do have some sparrows, but they’re mainly at the front where the bigger hedges are, rather than at the back.
Ive got a massive squirrel buster bird feeder that stays up all year ‘round and the birds have been pecking at the sunflower seeds throughout the winter.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have a pretty relaxed approach to pests too, but sadly the aphid infested plants were so smothered last year, that they started to really suffer.
That’s the only reason why I wanted to get ahead of the game this year!
Can’t wait to achieve that magical balance here too @Dovefromabove 😁