Peonies are luxurious flowers that adorn gardens around the world. However, their beauty often attracts unwanted guests – ants.
These insects not only spoil the appearance of plants, but can also cause serious harm to their health.
How to protect your favorite flowers from annoying pests?
Reasons why ants appear on peonies
Ants appear on peonies for a reason. These flowers release sweet nectar that attracts insects.
In addition, aphids often settle on the buds, secreting honeydew, a sweet substance that ants use as food.
Thus, a kind of symbiosis is formed between ants and aphids: the insects protect the aphids from predators, and in return receive nutrients.
Folk remedies for fighting ants
Many gardeners prefer to use folk methods of fighting ants, considering them safer for plants and the environment.
One popular method is to spray peonies with a solution of vinegar or lemon juice. The acidic environment repels insects without harming the plants.
It is also effective to sprinkle the soil around the peonies with ground pepper, cinnamon or crushed eggshells.
Another method is to create barriers. You can wrap tape around the stems of peonies, smeared with Vaseline or special insect glue.
This prevents ants from moving up the plant. Some gardeners use decoctions of wormwood, garlic or tobacco to spray flowers, which also repels pests.
Chemical means of protection
If folk methods prove ineffective, you can resort to chemical means of protection.
The modern market offers a wide range of insecticides specially designed to combat ants.
These preparations usually act quickly and reliably, destroying not only adult insects but also larvae.
When choosing a chemical, it is important to consider its impact on plants and the environment.
Preference should be given to drugs with minimal toxic effects. Before use, it is necessary to carefully read the instructions and observe all precautions.
Preventive measures
Prevention is the key to successfully controlling ants on peonies. Regular inspection of plants allows you to identify the problem early and take action before the insect population becomes numerous.
It is important to keep your garden clean, removing weeds and fallen leaves that can provide shelter for ants.
Healthy, well-groomed plants are less attractive to pests. Proper watering, fertilizing, and pruning of peonies help increase their resistance to insect attacks.
In addition, you can plant ant-repellent plants such as marigolds, tansy or mint next to peonies.
An integrated approach to protecting peonies
Effective protection of peonies from ants requires an integrated approach.
Combining various methods – folk remedies, chemicals and preventive measures – allows you to achieve the best results.
It is important to remember that it is impossible and unnecessary to completely get rid of ants in the garden, since these insects play an important role in the ecosystem.
The gardener's task is to control their numbers and minimize the damage caused to your favorite flowers.
