Anyone who has peonies in their garden will hardly be able to resist the temptation to sniff them. Her breathtaking scent is just too tempting. And you have probably often noticed that numerous ants walk around on them, and especially on the flower buds. This becomes quite annoying when you want to put together a bouquet of flowers for the vase. But why are the ants on peonies? Are you harming the plant or is there no need to worry about its beauty? We explain what attracts the insects and whether you should do anything about it.
What are the insects doing on the buds?
As you've probably noticed from other garden plants, ants are particularly attracted to pests.Especially aphidsThe small animals are very fond of their sweet juice, which is why they are often found on roses. Unfortunately, the ants aren't exactly an advantage here because they don't simply eat their prey like ladybugs do, for example. Instead, they collect them in their burrows and fight the competition, which is why they are of less use.
Does this mean that the peony is affected by pests?
No, in this case the cause of their presence is different. The buds secrete a sweet plant sap through their fine hairs, which is particularly tasty for these insects. This usually occurs before the flowers open, but after the sepals have opened wide enough to reveal the petals. So if you have ants on peonies, they have just come by to snack. And you do not damage the plant parts in any way. If the peony buds are eaten, there is definitely another cause (e.g. caterpillars).
The sticky juice is also disadvantageous for opening the flowers if it is released in particularly large quantities and is very sticky. In such cases it can even prevent flowering.
Ants on peonies – Should you get rid of the small insects?
Although the ants do not directly harm the plant, they can certainly transmit diseases, for example by previously being on a sick plant and the pathogens sticking to them and being transferred to the healthy plant.These are usually fungal sporesand especially the disease called “Bortrytis” or gray mold. And as we already mentioned, ants really take care of the delicious aphids. It is therefore also possible that they transfer this to your peony bushes. If you want to minimize this risk, it is definitely worth repelling the ants in a gentle manner.
These insects also serve the plant as beneficial organisms by spreading the seeds and thus contributing to reproduction.
How to get rid of ants on peonies in the garden
Check whether there are any aphids present. In this case, it is best to spray the plants with soapy water. If you would like to take specific action against the ants, the following methods are suitable:
- Rinse them off using the water hose.The ants also fall off. However, as you can imagine, this is only a temporary solution.
- Insect repellent is another option.We recommend less commercially available ones because they are harmful to the environment. Instead, you can use home remedies such as peppermint oil or cayenne pepper, for example. To do this, mix 2 to 3 tablespoons of the chosen product with water in a spray bottle and spray the plants and the soil around them. Water and apple cider vinegar in a 1:1 ratio can also be effective.
- Build a trapfrom a paper disc. Cut this into the middle and add a hole at the center point through which the flower stem fits. Coat the top with Vaseline and attach the disc to a stem. The Vaseline ensures that the ants stick.
- Plant fragrant plant partners.Not an immediate solution, but an option for next season, would be to plant or set up plants next to the peonies that will repel these insects with their scent. These include geraniums, but also mint and marigolds, for example.
This is how you get them from the cut flowers
Ants on peony buds are particularly unpleasant when you touch the bud stemspresent in a vaseand want to nurture it there until it blossoms. To avoid this, simply inspect each cut stem carefully and simply shake off any crawling ants. In addition, you can also dip the cut flowers in a bucket of water and let them sit for a while. The ants will detach themselves and can then be disposed of along with the water (it's best to water plants with it instead of simply pouring it away).
You can find a few useful tips for beautiful peoniesin this article.
