Was just about to replant a rose into the border, and discovered it was full of ants along with loads of larva! Should I just put the whole lot in the hole I'd dug in the border, or somehow 'wash' all the ants off? Or anything else? Thanks
Ants like dry places to make their nests. Give it a good soak by dunking the whole pot in a bucket of water. The ants will panic and try and save their eggs and larvae.
Delay planting but keep the pot well watered with a regular soaking for a few weeks will make the ants move on and carry off their larvae with them. You can then plant the rose as a bare root plant some time in October or November and that will let you shake off the compost and any remaining eggs and larvae. Water well after planting.
The other option is to plant now but keep the plant very well watered for the next few weeks so the ants move on. You can add essential oil of cloves to the water to encourage their departure as they hate the smell.
Make sure any other pots you have get a good soaking too so the nats don't just move in there.
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Delay planting but keep the pot well watered with a regular soaking for a few weeks will make the ants move on and carry off their larvae with them. You can then plant the rose as a bare root plant some time in October or November and that will let you shake off the compost and any remaining eggs and larvae. Water well after planting.
The other option is to plant now but keep the plant very well watered for the next few weeks so the ants move on. You can add essential oil of cloves to the water to encourage their departure as they hate the smell.
Make sure any other pots you have get a good soaking too so the nats don't just move in there.