Why do ants appear on currants and how to get rid of them
Currant is considered one of the healthiest berries and contains almost the same amount of vitamin C as lemon. At the same time, the shrubs of this plant are unpretentious and very easy to care for, but still vulnerable to the invasion of some pests. One of the frequent uninvited guests on currant bushes is an ant.
Content
Reasons for the appearance of ants on currant bushes
The main factor that can attract ants to a particular plant is aphids. Ants always appear next to aphids, protect them from enemies and promote their spread to other plants, and in return receive gratitude from them in the form of honeydew.
If there are no aphids on the leaves, but the ants nevertheless settled on the bushes, then there may be several reasons for this:
- too late harvest;
- the presence of old stumps in the garden;
- untimely cleaning of fallen leaves;
- improper plant care.
What is the danger of the appearance of ants on currants
First of all, you should make sure that this is really a malicious species. Only small black ants bring problems to gardeners, but if red or brownish individuals were seen on the bushes, then you should not panic. This species does not harm plants and does not spread aphids around the site.
As for black small ants, they can bring a lot of trouble. As a result of their activities, problems such as:
- spread of aphids;
- low immunity;
- frost resistance of shrubs;
- yellowing and falling of leaves;
- drying of young branches;
- damage to buds and inflorescences.
How to get rid of ants on currants
There are various ways to deal with these small pests, and each of them has its pros and cons.
Chemicals
The use of insecticides is the most effective method of controlling unwanted insects, but such preparations should be used very carefully. The most popular chemicals for killing ants are these drugs from the rating.
Traditional recipes
Most of these remedies show excellent results, but are harmless. Experienced gardeners often use the following methods to control ants.
| Solution with kerosene | Both gasoline and kerosene are suitable as an active substance, since both liquids have a sharp, repellent odor. Kerosene solution is used to water the land around currant bushes. To prepare it, you need to mix 10 tbsp. spoons of kerosene and 10 liters of water. |
| Infusion of onion peel | For cooking, you need 1 kg of dry onion peel and 10 liters of hot water. Both components must be combined and allowed to brew for about 24 hours. Before spraying, the infusion should be filtered. |
| Infusion of celandine | This recipe is also very effective. To prepare the product, you need to take 3,5 kg of fresh celandine and pour 10 liters of water. After a day, the infusion will be ready. The liquid must be filtered before use. |
| soda solution | The composition of this tool includes 1 tbsp. l. soda, 1 liter of water and 100 grams of crushed laundry soap. All components are mixed together and used for spraying. |
Prevention of the appearance of ants on currants
Fighting ants is a rather long and laborious process, so it is much easier to try to prevent the appearance of a pest. The main preventive measures against ants include:
- regular loosening of the soil around shrubs;
- whitewashing the lower part of the currant twigs;
- moderate fertilizing;
- planting plants with a strong aroma on the site;
- aphid destruction;
- timely cleaning of weeds and fallen leaves.
Conclusion
Not all ants are pests of cultivated plants, but black garden dwellers can really be very dangerous. The fight against these tiny insects is a long and laborious process, so preventive measures to protect shrubs should not be neglected.
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