Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
kentstar_gw

Ants all over my new rose!

kentstar
13 years ago

I went outside today to check on one of my container roses. It was a bare root rose that I just planted about a week ago. I moved back the pine mulch that I had mounded over the canes, and there were tons of tiny black ants all over the mulch!

What can I do to protect my rose against these pests? Will they kill my new baby rose? Or are they just after the mulch. I use that fine pine mulch.

Thankyou

Cathy

Comments (15)

  • michaelg
    13 years ago

    A kind of tiny black ant loves to nest in potted plants, indoors or out. They make chambers in the soil with waterproof roofs. I don't think they will hurt the rose, other than reducing rooting space, and they don't sting. However I would spray with a residual ant spray on the mulch, the pot rim and sides, and the pavement under and around the pot.

  • kentstar
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    I have those Ortho Max granules that I can sprinkle around the pot and on the mulch. Will that do?

    Thankyou!
    Cathy

  • mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
    13 years ago

    Stick it in water. Drown the little creatures.

  • kentstar
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    I can't because it's a half wine barrel, much too heavy to do! Maybe they are coming down from the oak tree next to it? I didn't see any evidence of that though. I have long planters near the tree too and the ants don't bother anything in there. Hmmm. I wonder what is attracting them? I used Al's basic mix for the container, pine fines, perlite, MG potting mix (I didn't have any peat so I figured the potting mix was mostly peat anyways), a handful of Epsoma lime, and bonsai soil which contained Turface as an ingredient.
    Thanks for the ideas though.

    Cathy

    {{gwi:252251}}

  • markiz37
    13 years ago

    Cathy, the only thing that helps me is raising the pot off the ground, putting it on a stand or a rock, or a couple of bricks. Could you do this?
    Lana

  • kentstar
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Would that keep the ants out of the roses? Wouldn't they just get in anyways?
    I thought about raising it off the ground before I planted the rose, but thought better of it, because the rose is going to stay outdoors all year long. I can't lift to bring into a shed. I thought that having contact with the ground may help with overwintering a little bit (not much but a little lol) and wrapping and stuffing full of oak leaves. If it dies (hope not) I've got two backups that ARE going in the shed.

  • karl_bapst_rosenut
    13 years ago

    Are there aphids on the rose bush? Sometimes ants will farm aphids for the honeydoo.

  • kentstar
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    I didn't see any aphids on it. Hmmm... Maybe they just liked the damp cover of the mulch.

  • scottys
    13 years ago

    Yes, try sprinkling ant killer granules around the base of the rose and also around the ground around the wooden container. It will do the job and will not harm the rose bush.

  • kentstar
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Just wanted to update you, the granules seemed to help. All the ants are gone! I'll keep watch though for a while.

  • jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
    13 years ago

    That's great to hear Kentstar!

  • sammy zone 7 Tulsa
    13 years ago

    I like to use bait. It seems safer to me than regular sprays, and I understand that the queens live way underground. Ants will burrough into the wood of the rose, and kill it. Usually they get started in a dead or almost dead cane, but they are able to do damage in my garden --- Tulsa zone 7.
    Sammy

  • Saurabh25
    10 years ago

    have heard somewhere that ants, if they dont harm your rose, help soil in decomposing.

    But thats just another article i read, obviously ants in the pot is annoying.

  • susan4952
    10 years ago

    I like the Grant's Ant stakes. They work really well.

  • jerijen
    10 years ago

    We've always had good luck with Grant's Ant Stakes (but make sure pets/children cannot access them -- and cannot get to ant granules).

    Once the ants are gone, buy a big package of CINNAMON STICKS, AND STICK THOSE IN THE SOIL. They will discourage ants.

    Jeri

Sponsored
Bull Run Kitchen and Bath
Average rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars273 Reviews
Virginia's Top Rated Kitchen & Bath Renovation Firm I Best of Houzz