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Hypericum and ants
Erica68
Posts: 65
I had 2 hypericums planted next to each other last year. They are doing very nicely in heavy clay soil up against the fence to the east of my tiny town garden.
Today I noticed that some of the flowers that have gone a bit to seed are swarming with ants. They appear to have aimed for the dying flowers.
Is this a problem and if it is how can I deal with it.
0
Posts
The ants are more likely to be aiming for aphids, there are carnivores. You can wash the aphids off, that will sort them out but I just let them get on with it.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks for your advice nutcutlet however I am still puzzled about why this attack on the plant takes place on such a very specific part i.e. the seed pod.
My hypericums got over run with ants and I searched the net and came across the idea of putting mint right next to the stem. So I treated each hyperucum to a mint plant from Sainsbury's and the ants left! I have watched these plants for weeks now and the ants have stayed away and I cut the mint down when it got overgrown and it has thrived.
Just thought I would let people know about this as I think it is amazing!