Ants can be a problem in a garden. They eat beneficial bugs, such as ladybugs. They also help aphids to survive. Ants generally do not harm plants, but may inflict painful stings on humans. If you are growing an organic garden, want to control ants, but do not want to use harmful chemicals and pesticides, you are in luck.
First, consider controlling the number of ants, not getting rid of them all together. Ants can aerate soil, keep wasps away and eat larvae of other insects. Caterpillar control is the best reason to keep at least some of the ants! But, they can sometimes spread diseases from one plant to another, encourage aphids and other unwanted insects to come to your garden, and will sometimes kill certain plants. Carpenter ants are the most harmful to vegetable gardens. Most ants, however, only eat sugary nectar or the excrement of aphids and are not harmful to any plant.
Simply watering daily can keep ant numbers down. It is not effective at getting rid of them completely, but it will make them uncomfortable and can help you avoid a real invasion. Soapy water seems to work well, but may also discourage beneficial insects from making a home in your garden. Almost all bugs are beneficial to your garden, so be selective about what you actually eliminate.
If they are truly bothersome to you, consider planting a barrier of plants that ants cannot stand. Any mint, cloves and lavender are best at repelling ants. Mint will spread and will grow back year after year, sometimes taking over an area. So, if you use mint, you may consider growing it in containers instead of directly in the ground.
There are a host of plants and herbs that can take care of most bothersome insects in your organic garden. Some even add nutrients to the soil and make certain vegetables taste better. For example, chives repel pests that usually attack fruit or tomatoes while improving the flavor of your carrots. Garlic is known to repel more pests than any other plant you could put in your garden. Beets and soybeans add nitrogen and magnesium to the soil. Dispersing onions and garlic through your garden can even keep rabbits from eating your vegetables.
If you actually create a planting chart and do a little research, you can encourage the most beneficial insects, such as bees, centipedes and microscopic nematodes. At the same time, you can repel the more damaging insects simply by strategically placing plants in certain areas. Improve your soil, improve the taste and nutrient content of your vegetables and inspire growth simply by planning out where you want each plant to live.
Growing an organic garden is rewarding, but expect it to be a bit of a challenge. Learning about how plants and insects benefit each other is a great place to start. Consider letting nature take its course for the most part. If ants are your only problem, then you are doing very well! You can allow them to make their tunnels, aerate your soil and pollinate your plants. If you really want to keep them off of certain plants, put ground hot peppers, molasses or double-sided tape around the stalks of certain plants. Keep your hose reel handy for occasional ant population control and your organic garden will be yours again.
About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.
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