Ants in rose pots 🐜

Allyblueeyes · August 2022

Morning everyone,

We came back from holiday at the weekend and discovered an ant infestation in my rose pots. Are they friend or foe? There seems to be so many differences of opinion.

I don’t mind creepy crawlies to an extent, but there are so many, they are making my skin crawl.

Any advice how to get rid, preferably in a bee-friendly way or do I just leave well alone? I’m almost certain there must be nests there as I’ve never seen so many and they’re making a beeline for the front door 😕

Any suggestions welcome! 🙏

Slow-worm · August 2022

Unless they're farming aphids I'd leave them alone. If you have aphids you can spray them with a weak soap solution and a couple of drops of mint oil.
Ants are brilliant for breaking up the soil. There's tons under my gravel bed, I've never had a problem with them.

Fairygirl · August 2022

I doubt roses in pots would be very happy for long with an ants nest. It suggests the soil is very dry, and that seems likely if you've been away and they haven't been regularly watered. Even if you're in an area that's had decent rain, it doesn't get right into the soil in pots well enough. Nests also mean displaced soil and a lot of gaps, which won't do the plants any favours either. The ants themselves won't do any harm, although they love farming aphids, and roses are a good source of those.

I'd take a good look at the conditions of the soil in the pots, and if it's very dried out, you'll need to submerge the pots to get them rehydrated, and then keep an eye on them. If that isn't possible, you can put a tray or saucer underneath, and water well. Leave until the water's all been taken up, and repeat until the soil is well dampened.

debs64 · August 2022

Best thing to do is water lots and lots it will benefit the rose and the ants will move away. I get the exact same issue and usually at this time of year but ants like a dry environment so lots of water is the key

Arthur1 · August 2022

Ants are a pain in the neck. My allotment is overrun with them. They love the well drained raised beds. But I would not dream of poisoning them. They appear to do little harm apart from annoying my dogs and I. Poisons recommended for ants tend to be broad spectrum, and I would not want chemicals to wash away with the storm water.

WAMS · August 2022

I just had a rose fail (first time this had happened). Dug it up and huge ants nest underneath. The same rose in its first flush had a couple of distorted buds swarming with ants. I'm not so sure they're harmless.

edhelka · August 2022

Ant nests in rose pots are far from harmless. I would start with frequent watering and if that doesn't help, I would repot the rose.

Fairygirl · August 2022

Just to be clear - I meant the ants themselves are harmless, but not the nests.

I did say [quite clearly I thought] that a nest is a problem.
If there is one of course, which is why the pot needs looked at closely

Allyblueeyes · August 2022

Thanks everyone. There is no sign of aphids, that’s one problem I haven’t had this summer (yet). A neighbour watered my garden whilst I was away and the pots are never allowed to dry out, having said that, we’re in Hertfordshire where we have had no rain for absolutely ages 😩 I’ll up the watering and keep fingers crossed. I’ll go out tonight and give them a thorough, and I mean thorough soaking!!! Thanks again everyone.

Obelixx · August 2022

You can't rely on rain to water pots and in summer they will probably need watering once a day - twice in heatwaves - and you really need saucers to stop it all draining immediately unless you're growing succulents and drought lovers.

As said, ants like dry spaces to make nests and lay and nurture their eggs. The tunnels leave plant roots hanging in air so they dry out and cannot access nutrients or water. This happens in soil as well pots.

You can keep them away without poison by the simple act of watering adequately and you can encourage them to move on with smells they don't like - plant some pennyroyal or mix 1 small bottle of essential oil of cloves into 5 litres of water and drench the pot or crown and roots of the affected plant. The ants will move on.

Allyblueeyes · August 2022

Thank you @Obelixx. When I’m here the pots are watered daily, twice as you say in very hot weather. It obviously wasn’t enough so I’m making up a peppermint mixture as apparently they don’t like that either and giving them a thorough watering. I’ll take them off their pot feet and get some plastic saucers tomorrow together with some clove oil. I don’t want to use anything ‘nasty’ so I’m hoping the watering will work. I’ve honestly never seen so many 🐜!!! Thanks again 🤞🏻

Ants in rose pots 🐜

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