How to get rid of ants in strawberries?

Ants are some of the most industrious insects out there, but they can do more than just benefit. Many gardeners are repeatedly faced with the problem of aphid formation on strawberries, and this is facilitated by ants who also eat the berries. We offer you useful information on how to recognize the defeat of berries, how to deal with the problem and protect your own crop using different methods. There are a number of preventive measures that can be taken to grow healthy and tasty strawberries.

Ants build their moves on fertile soil, so strawberry plantations are not just a refuge for them, but a place of food. Under the bushes of this berry, they can hide from domestic animals and birds. However, the main problem is that insects do harm by spreading aphids. It should be noted a few more negative factors to which the anthills located in the roots of the bushes lead. First of all, due to insects, the acidity of the soil increases, and strawberries do not like such soil, preferring neutral one. Ants love to feast on ripe berries, but they also eat flowers.

If an anthill settles near, it will destroy the plants, and they will quickly dry out. Aphids begin to quickly spread from one bush to another, and they harm, taking juice from the culture. Aphids often spread from the inside, so a thorough inspection is important. It is far from immediately possible to see the habitat of ants, especially if it is not yet noticeable enough.

Many people wonder when does the infestation of ants begin? Both black and red insects can settle in the garden, the nests of which are a complex system of chambers that are connected through passages. In the winter season, ants hide in the depths of the soil, but as soon as the sun warms the ground, they activate and crawl out.

The harm that ants can inflict on strawberries is the reproduction of aphids, it produces juice that feeds insects. Most often, their hordes are attacked by young, full of strength shoots, as well as strawberry leaves.

It is not necessary to kill parasites, there is a more gentle option to get rid of them, especially if the insect family has not yet managed to multiply to a huge size. It should be remembered that ants are also beneficial, just not everywhere. If you can, it is best to move the nest and leave it away from your site. This procedure is carried out at the end of spring, since at this time the anthills are not yet equipped with insects.

It is important to use rubber gloves to prevent bites. Dig the nest completely, capturing the larvae and eggs, it is better to run the shovel deeper. You can transfer the anthill in a wide bowl or bowl. As for the resulting hole, cover it with ash. Experts recommend digging nests either before 10 am or closer to sunset when the parasites are hiding inside.

If this method is unacceptable for you, or you have a phobia of ants, you can scare them away - this also works. Scatter either parsley, peppermint, or wormwood between the berry beds, some use mustard powder. The pungent specific smell will quickly drive the ants out of your area. You can wet cotton pads with essential oils, or use ordinary ammonia - insects are very sensitive to such aromas, and you will not see them again.

Proof of the effectiveness of this method is that there are almost never ants on mustard crops, so experienced gardeners often plant this plant between strawberry bushes. Such prevention will be effective, and you will be satisfied with the result obtained, because the culture is protected and will soon begin to bear fruit.

If the ants have already managed to harm, use medicinal herbs, the smell of which will scare them away. If the plot is large, it will be useful to sow some of these plants, moreover, they do not need special care. Soon you will notice that insects have completely stopped appearing on the surface, this indicates that they have left an uncomfortable place for them. Another humane option for pest control is the use of sawdust soaked in anise oil. If you have wood shavings, thuja, fir or spruce, which smells pungently, are the best choices, mix them with anise oil and spread them out on the plot.

Birds are the enemy of all insects, but they can also damage your crops. Therefore, the help of birds should be used only in early spring, when they are especially hungry. To do this, you need large millet, which must be scattered on the beds, it is perceived by the ants as their own eggs, and they will begin to drag them into the hole in order to "save".

What if you have ants in your garden, and the previous methods did not work? This is an urgent question for every agronomist who has encountered pests at least once. There are several options that can be used depending on the severity of the problem.

Despite the fact that this method is quite aggressive, in some situations you cannot do without it. Such products as "Muratsid" are very popular (in some stores it may be called "Anteater"). The main component of the bait is diazinon, it must be poured directly into the nest. Take an interest in the Great Warrior gel product. The bait is laid out along the paths in plastic lids.

A mixture of "Zubr" and "Thunder-2" must be prepared with the correct proportions, and then treated with it plants. If you have just planted strawberry seedlings, you can treat it with "Metaldehyde", which is applied after fruiting. Some gardeners apply ammonium nitrate to the nest, then watered everything with water.

Whatever chemical you use, it is important to remember that it poses a danger to human health, so protect your hands and face with special means, after which you can start treating the site and plants. In this way, it is easy to get ants out of the garden forever.

Often, folk methods are in great demand, because they also help to destroy pests. You may need tar or laundry soap to protect strawberries from aphids and scale insects. And also to the improvised means is ordinary table salt, which is enough to pour into the anthill - and the parasites will soon leave the nest. Oddly enough, but bird droppings can easily cope with a pest, so if you have chickens or geese on your farm, you can safely use the waste. If an ant colony has formed on the site, it is quite difficult to fight it, but with the use of all useful recommendations, you can achieve a positive effect.

Many gardeners often use ammonia, which can be sprayed on plants, at the same time, there will be no oversaturation of the microelement. To prepare the mixture, take 40 ml of 10% alcohol and pour it into a bucket of water.

When the flowering period has passed, you will need 3 tbsp. l. ammonia and a bucket of water. First of all, just water the soil, after which you need to spray each strawberry bush with a solution. After harvesting, you need to repeat the procedure, it will need the same amount of water and one can of ammonia. This common drug is used by almost all gardeners, since ammonia allows for active flowering of strawberries, is a prophylactic agent against various insects, and also eliminates the need to feed with other substances. Moreover, it is safe for culture.

If you're growing your berries in a greenhouse, a different approach may help. To do this, you need formalin, which must be diluted in water in proportions of 1:10, after which all cracks and places where ant paths may be can be processed.

Spray gently so that the solution does not get on the leaves, this treatment guarantees getting rid of parasites. If you have live or dry yeast and honey at home, mix these two ingredients, add semolina and spread along the paths.

Plain baking soda can help control pests. Mix it with salt, add to boiling water and pour into the anthill in the morning.

In order not to have to face the problem of an infestation of ants, it is better to take precautions in advance, since it is quite difficult to completely expel insects from the garden. Study a few recommendations, apply them, and you can prevent the death of the strawberry crop on the site. If you plant garlic, onions or peppermint next to the plantation, you can forget about insects. Of course, it is important to remove weeds, but this applies to both berries and other types of crops.

From the warm season, it is recommended to treat the beds with garlic tincture, which has a specific aroma. To do this, you will need a bucket of water, boric acid, a crushed head of garlic, and some needles extract. Leave the mixture on for a week, after which it can be used.

Prepare dry wormwood or yarrow in advance, thanks to them the ants will not even try to attack the garden. Often insects live near fruit trees, so the strawberry planting site should be away from the garden. From time to time, check for pests, because at an early stage it is much easier to deal with them.

With such simple but necessary measures, you will prevent ants from breeding in your area and ensure good yields. The presence of aphids or scale insects indicates that the time has come to urgently fight the parasites. Good luck!

How to get rid of ants in strawberries, see below.