Are Ants A Problem?

[Wishin']

It seems ants have taken up residence in my bags/pots. While inconvenient, I would like to know are they an actual problem, would they threaten the health of my tomatoes or potatoes? If so how do I get rid of them without harming my plants?

 

[journey11]

Not that I'm aware of... Maybe you could put some borax and sugar mixture beside the planters and they'd come get it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where are those bags/pots? In your house or somewhere outside? Nobody wants ants but as long as they are not a biting ant like fire ants they are probably not a real problem. If you have plants in those pots you might check for aphids. Ants sometimes farm aphids for their body fluids discharge.

Do you know what kind of ants they are?

 

[Carol Dee]

They will not harm the plants. But if they are a biting ant you will want them gone. Ant bites can be painful.

 

[Wishin']

They are non biting black ants, and they are outside. Every year they take up residence on my tomatoes, and potatoes. They are a nuisance, but if they don't hurt me or the plant I guess the can stay. No aphids, I love watching them farm the aphids. I know this sounds mean, but whenever I find ants with their aphids, I get the kids to find me some lady bugs. I love watching them protect their "farm".

 

[digitS']

We can choose the teams we want to win in our garden, Wishin'.

If I could choose, I'd be pulling for the ladybugs over the ants and aphids, any day!

Last year, the ladybugs were all over the strawflowers. Every stem had 2 or 3 ladybugs! Since I don't usually spray flowers destined for drying, they were in with the veggies. The cabbage, only about 5' away had one of there best years ever, against the aphids!

Carpenter ants can chew into the wood in your house to make nests.

Steve

 

[the1honeycomb]

turned the chicken coop into a shed and was shocked to see that the carpenter ants had taken over the place went in to get some organic ant spray and they were gone when I got back Now that is a speedy group of ants!!
sugar ants in the kitchen what a mess they are!

Nancy

 

[Wishin']

I love ants, I tend to root for then no matter what the situation, unless they are taking down a spider, or when they take a chunk out of EVERY STRAWBERRY, before I get a taste Ants are one of the reason I would like to get a degree in entomology.

 

[lesa]

I have had ants ruin potted plants. For some reason, the barrels I plant at a rental property seem to attract them. The barrels with the ants die- and the ones without live. I put an ant trap out and solve the problem. If they don't seem to be causing any problem, I would leave them be.