Active and passive protection against ants on trees
Every self-respecting gardener has at least one fruit tree on the site. In order for the plant to regularly please with high-quality and generous harvests, it is very important to properly care for it and prevent the appearance of harmful insects. One of the non-obvious, but very dangerous pests of trees, are ants.
Content
Reasons for the appearance of ants on a tree
If ants were seen on the branches of trees, then they liked the site. These insects are not particularly demanding on living conditions, but there are still some reasons that can attract a small pest. These reasons include:
- the presence of aphid-infested plants on the site;
- untimely harvesting of fallen fruits and leaves;
- lack of regular digging of the soil;
- construction garbage;
- rotting wood on the site;
- excessive fertilization.
What harm do ants do to trees?
In fairness, it is worth noting that only black garden ants can harm trees, but their red forest counterparts are extremely useful insects. The appearance of black pests on trees in the garden can be fraught with such consequences for the plant:
- spread of aphids;
- damage to fruit buds;
- premature fall and rotting of fruits;
- decrease in plant immunity.
What parts of the tree should be treated when ants appear
A colony of ants that have settled in a garden can range from several hundred to several million individuals. These tiny insects scatter all over the tree, and an inexperienced gardener can be overwhelmed by their numbers. When dealing with ants, it is very important to know which places to pay attention to and how to properly protect them from pests.
When is the best time to treat trees?
It is immediately worth noting that spraying the tree with chemicals is unacceptable during the period of flowering and fruit ripening, as it can harm the tree and make the fruits unusable. It is best to process trees at such a time:
- at the stage of swelling of the first kidneys;
- before the buds open;
- immediately after flowering.
Means for treating trees from ants
There are a huge number of tools to deal with ants on trees. Among them are effective chemicals, proven folk recipes, as well as various traps and baits.
Chemicals
Chemicals almost always show excellent results in the fight against dangerous pests, but they should be used very carefully. Insecticides of such brands as are especially popular among gardeners:
- Raptor;
- Aktara;
- Thunder;
- Combat.
Folk remedies
Means prepared according to folk recipes can also be quite effective, but, nevertheless, their main advantage over chemicals is safety. These are considered the most effective among folk remedies.
| Means | Preparation and use |
|---|---|
| Solution with kerosene | To prepare it, you need 400 grams of crushed laundry soap, 2 tbsp. l. carbolic acid, 100 ml of kerosene and 10 liters of water. The resulting liquid can process not only trees, but also an anthill. |
| A mixture of clay and wood ash | This substance is used to treat the trunk. The trunk smeared with such a mixture becomes unattractive and impassable for ants. |
| Tobacco infusion | It is necessary to fill 500 g of shag or tobacco waste with 10 liters of water and leave for 2-3 days. After the infusion is filtered, another 10 liters of water are added and used for spraying. |
| soda solution | The composition of the solution includes 10 liters of water, 50 g of ordinary baking soda and 300 g of linseed oil. The product can be used for spraying even during flowering and fruit ripening. |
Traps and lures
Such methods of struggle are also called mechanical. The best result in the fight against ants on trees was shown by these.
To prepare it, you need 400 grams of crushed laundry soap, 2 tbsp. l. carbolic acid, 100 ml of kerosene and 10 liters of water. The resulting liquid can process not only trees, but also an anthill.
This substance is used to treat the trunk. The trunk smeared with such a mixture becomes unattractive and impassable for ants.
It is necessary to fill 500 g of shag or tobacco waste with 10 liters of water and leave for 2-3 days. After the infusion is filtered, another 10 liters of water are added and used for spraying.
The composition of the solution includes 10 liters of water, 50 g of ordinary baking soda and 300 g of linseed oil. The product can be used for spraying even during flowering and fruit ripening.
Prevention of the appearance of ants on trees
The most correct method for pest control is the prevention of its occurrence. To prevent ants from entering the site, it is enough to follow these recommendations:
- get rid of rotting wood on the site;
- annually whitewash the trunks and skeletal branches of all trees and shrubs;
- clean trunks from old bark;
- install trapping belts on tree trunks;
- remove fallen leaves and fruits from the garden in a timely manner.
https://youtu.be/xgg62gFW5v4
Conclusion
Despite all the power and grandeur, trees suffer from pest attacks as often as herbaceous crops. In order for the plant to continue to produce tasty and high-quality fruits every year, it is necessary to carefully monitor its condition and get rid of dangerous insects in time.
Previous