Many gardeners choose peonies for their garden, because they bloom abundantly and are extremely easily grown. Like any plants, they are exposed to pests. When we see ants, we should carefully see the specimens.
They attract ants with substances they secrete, i.e. sugars, amino acids and lipids. The appearance of these insects on pebions is not accidental – it is a completely natural phenomenon and related to both their behavior and the stage of plant development.
Annts live in organized colonies, so if one discovers a sweet secretions on buds, he will quickly take the rest there. That is why their presence on these specimens is so common.
Gardeners are thinking if ants are pests of peonies. It turns out that they are not because they do not have a bad impact on the development of these plants. What’s more, harmful insects can deter.
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There is one situation when ants pose a threat to peony. They may be a symptom of aphids. They are attracted not only by the peony itself, but also the sweet drop produced by these pests.
Due to food, ants begin to protect aphids. These, in turn, suck vegetable juices, which leads to the drying of shoots and flowers.
As soon as we notice ants, it is worth watching the plants carefully for the symptoms of aphids, i.e. twisted or sticky leaves, deformed flower buds, small green, black or gray insects focused on young shoots and the presence of sticky, shiny discharge
As mentioned, ants in themselves do not pose a threat to peonies. However, if we are disturbed by their presence, we can chase them away with home remedies. For example, it is worth sprinkling the soil around the bushes with a deterrent. Lavender or mint has a similar effect, so it’s worth planting them next to the peonies.
If aphids appear, act immediately. We remove small amounts of these insects by hand, while Specialized spraying should be used on the colonies.
We also recommend the use of home protection products on aphids. I am talking about infusion of garlic or nettle extract.
