Getting Rid of Ants in Your Trees

Pests and trees simply do not get along. That is just how nature works. Things are not so clear-cut either when it comes to ants lurking around the stems and roots of your trees.

A couple of ants do not pose an issue at all. The truth is that some of them can help take care of your tree. However, there are still other ants that hurt or damage our trees.

How do you know if the ants in your trees are harmless? What should you do to get rid of harmful ants? Do you have to contact a professional Kenosha tree removal company? Today, we are going to find out.

Getting Rid of Ants on Trees

While almost every ant does not harm trees, they can be devious and end up in your house or other areas of your lawn. That is why it is best to get rid of them as soon as you discover them. Here are a couple of ways to prevent ants from spreading throughout your property:

• To get rid of sap-feeding pests in your tree, utilize an insecticide or a horticultural soap. If you do this, you will stop the honeydew supply of the ant.
• Use ant baits and line them the bottom of the tree. This will help you capture the ants as they move around.
• Combine one gallon of water and 30 drops of peppermint oil and spray the solution on the tree. For those who don’t know, ants don’t like peppermint. Thus, they will leave the area as soon as they smell peppermint near it.

Can Ants Damage the Roots of Your Tree?

There are exceptions to each rule. Of course, this can be applied with ants. Oftentimes, some ants can cause issues. Here are some examples:

• Carpenter Ants

Black ants are active if you see piles of sawdust at the tree’s base. If this is the case, you have to contact a professional tree care company to figure out if you have to get rid of the tree. Keep in mind that ants only burrow in wood that is rotten. Thus, a tree with carpenter ants is weak. Thus, it could fall at any moment.

• Red Imported Fire Ants

These ants are harmful to young trees. Aside from that, they cause awful blisters to pets and people.

You should be extremely cautious not to disturb or touch those anthills if you see a dome-shaped mound at your tree’s base. The dark and small marron ants will bite anything that touches them. All you have to do is to call a professional and ask about the best insecticide.

Are Ants on Trees Bad or Good?

There are two reasons why ants are drawn to trees. First, they are looking for that delicious honeydew that’s left behind by other pests. Next, they are building a shelter inside the tree with rotten wood and cavities.

Ants themselves do not harm a tree in general. However, they offer an indication that your tree is having problems.