Ants can be a real nuisance in the garden, especially when they invade your precious strawberry patch. While ants help aerate soil and consume pests, large infestations can damage your plants and ruin your strawberry harvest. Instead of dousing your garden in harsh chemicals, try these organic ant deterrents to protect your berries in an eco-friendly way.
Why Are Ants Attracted to Strawberries?
Ants are attracted to the natural sugars and juices inside ripe strawberries They also feed on honeydew secretions from aphids and other sap-sucking pests that attack strawberry plants Damaged or rotting fruit are other ant magnets.
While ants don’t directly damage plants, they do spread disease and allow infections to take hold by exposing inner fruit flesh Left uncontrolled, ants will carry off your crop and can even kill developing shoots and runners by burying them in new nesting mounds
12 Organic Ways to Get Rid of Ants in Strawberry Plants
1. Use Diatomaceous Earth
Put diatomaceous earth around the bases of plants and along the paths that ants take. The sharp edges of this chalky powder cut the exoskeletons of ants, killing them and dehydrating them. Reapply after rain or watering.
2. Mix Garlic Water Spray
Blend several crushed garlic cloves with water and let sit overnight. Strain and mix the garlic water with a bit of liquid dish soap. Spray onto plants and soil to deter ants. Reapply weekly.
3. Spread Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds repel ants with their strong smell. Sprinkle them around plants, along garden edges and ant trails. Their abrasive texture also deters ants from crossing.
4. Apply Petroleum Jelly Barriers
Coat plant stems with a sticky petroleum jelly ring. Ants get stuck when they try to climb across. Reapply after rainfall to maintain effectiveness.
5. Use Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap spray disrupts ants’ waxy outer layer causing dehydration. Spray directly on ant nests and ants by mixing two to three tablespoons of it with one gallon of water. Reapply weekly.
6. Set Out Citrus Peels
Scatter fresh citrus peels around plants. The strong citrus oils act as a natural ant repellent. Replace peels every few days as the oils quickly evaporate.
7. Apply Chili Pepper Spray
Puree 2 cups of chili peppers with water and strain. Add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap. The capsaicin in peppers repels ants on contact. Reapply weekly.
8. Use Ant Repelling Plants
Grow ant deterring plants like mint, tansy, pennyroyal and wormwood around your strawberry patch. Crush leaves to release more oils before scattering them around.
9. Pour Boiling Water on Colonies
Boil water and pour directly onto ant hills and trails. This will kill ants and deter them from returning. Repeat treatments may be needed for large colonies.
10. Set Out Sweet Liquid Baits
Mix a sweet liquid like sugar water with boric acid or borax. Place in shallow containers near plants. Ants are poisoned when they eat this mixture and share it with the colony.
11. Sprinkle Baby Powder
The fine texture of baby powder hurts ants’ tiny joints and their waxy coat. Puff it onto nests, entry points and trails. Reapply after rainfall.
12. Remove Food Sources
Eliminate aphids, rotting fruits/veggies, spilled nectar and other ant food sources. Trim back vegetation touching buildings. Manage kitchen and garden waste properly.
Prevention Tips
Avoid overwatering which promotes fungal diseases.
Don’t over fertilize with nitrogen that attracts sap-sucking pests.
Remove spent plants and rotate annual crops to disrupt ant nesting.
Keep the garden free of weeds that give cover for insects.
Check for ants daily and treat nests early before they multiply.
Using multiple deterrents is more effective and environmentally safe than chemical pesticides. Be patient for results when applying organic ant control solutions. Protect your strawberries from ants without harming your garden’s biodiversity.
To deter ants from your strawberries, you can use a combination of methods like applying diatomaceous earth, using herbs like mint or thyme around the plants, or creating a natural barrier with coffee grounds or a vinegar solution.
How to get rid of aphids and ants on strawberry plants?
Aphids. Soapy water sprayed directly on the bugs will kill them, without harm to the strawberries, and no residual effect on other insects. New aphids will replace them, so you’ll need to spray them every few days. Just fill a clean spray bottle with water and add a squirt of dish soap.
What is the best pest control for strawberry plants?
Customers Ultimately Purchased
Monterey5 lb. …
BonideCaptain Jack’s Tomato and Vegetable Spray, 32 oz. …
Best Seller. …
Corry’s1.75 lb. …
AMDRO24 oz. …
BIOADVANCED24 oz. …
Sevin32 oz. …
Southern Ag8 oz. Outdoor Organic Liquid Concentrate Thuricide Insect Killer for Caterpillar and Worm Control on Plants and Gardens.
How to get rid of ants in fruit plants?
Make your own soap solution with 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap in 1 pint of warm water.Spray it on and around your plant. Soaps containing peppermint oil are particularly effective.
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Ants are a normal and almost certain aspect of gardening, how do we keep them at bay without harsh chemical applications?
It seems like it will happen: we plant our gardens, spring and summer start, and everything seems great…until we see those telltale mounds with trails of stinky ants taking over. It often feels as though one day they were not there, the next our gardens and the lovely produce we have worked so hard to grow, is covered in ants.
There is a fine line between a few beneficial ants, and an army covering everything in sight. It’s almost impossible to stop the 90% of the ants that are determined to move in, but it’s important to remember that ants are good for the garden in some ways because they help the soil breathe.
I have several of the plants listed above in my garden already, but am still battling ants…now what?
As soon as there are too many ants and plants that keep them away aren’t working, you might want to try natural remedies that are safe for plants, pets, and people but do work to reduce the number of ants. For natural deterrents that aren’t plants, here are some options that are easy to find and use in your garden.
Cinnamon: putting cinnamon on your garden works, but it costs a little more than other options.
Lemon Juice: Mix 50/50 lemon juice and water and spray all over. Ants need scent trails to stay alive, but the lemon destroys them.
It works like lemon juice: a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water will destroy the ants’ scent trail and often kill them on contact. First, test a small area and wait a day to see if the plants have any burn marks. Vinegar can be very harsh on more delicate leaves.
You can either sprinkle cayenne or black pepper directly on the soil or mix them with water (2 tablespoons for every cup of water) and spray it on your garden. Just like with vinegar, test the pepper spray on a small area and wait a day to see if it hurts any more delicate leaves.
A Home Remedy for Ants in Your Vegetable Garden – 4 Parts Sugar to 1 Part Borax: Two Minute TRG Tips
FAQ
How do I keep ants out of my strawberries?
Putting down diatomaceous earth, placing herbs like mint or thyme around the plants, or making a natural barrier with coffee grounds or a vinegar solution are all things you can do to keep ants away from your strawberries.
How to get rid of aphids and ants on strawberry plants?
Aphids. Soapy water sprayed directly on the bugs will kill them, without harm to the strawberries, and no residual effect on other insects. New aphids will replace them, so you’ll need to spray them every few days. Just fill a clean spray bottle with water and add a squirt of dish soap.
What is the best pest control for strawberry plants?
Customers Ultimately PurchasedMonterey5 lb. BonideCaptain Jack’s Tomato and Vegetable Spray, 32 oz. Best Seller. Corry’s1. 75 lb. AMDRO24 oz. BIOADVANCED24 oz. Sevin32 oz. Southern Ag8 oz. Outdoor Organic Liquid Concentrate Thuricide Insect Killer for Caterpillar and Worm Control on Plants and Gardens.
How to get rid of ants in fruit plants?
Make your own soap solution with 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap in 1 pint of warm water. Spray it on and around your plant. Soaps containing peppermint oil are particularly effective.
