Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

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Biting Ants when walking thru Sunflowers

Its true they bite. I have one sunflower in my front yard with ants raising a small colony of webbed in egg/ larvae on the bottom side of two of the leaves. Wearing gloves I turn over a leave to look more closely to the tune of the 'guard' ant coming to the glove and trying to fend me off by biting, and biting. It worked on you didn't it? Its cause you are in its lair where they are protecting the growing antlings. Be fully covered and brush off after, if you walk between your sunflowers. Or find out how to get rid of them.

Post by 2befearless

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

I have the same problem. They are small black ants and they are not eating dead leaves. They cut off the flower heads. I believe that it must be to get at the sap. The plants are perfectly healthy. I will try the solutions suggested - thanks!

Post By Lou Malchie (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

Don't kill the ants the are eating away the bad and dead parts of the sunflowers if you have tobacco streak virus infected plants they might help keep it from spreading by eating infected parts plants do not like plants unless they are leaf cutters which is unlikely unless you live in Africa

Post By Vince (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

Sunflowers can RUST too..do not overwater.

Post by badwolf

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

You really do not want an "ant free" garden. The ants are killing many of the insects that damage your flowers. The ants are also cleaning up the dead material that could cause disease. Unless you have direct evidence that they are doing damage, respect their role in nature. The large black ants, generally Carpenter Ants are more of a danger to house and property. If you are seeing these around the property I would be more concerned about an infestation in the house rather than the ants destroying the plants.

Ants do not like ANY plant (substance) that creates a strong chemical odor as they function entirely on smell more than sight or hearing. Strong smelling substances can cause them great stress.
End of lecture.

Post by badwolf

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

Are you people living in the dark ages? Ants are not eating your sunflowers. You have a fungus infection on the plant which is very common during the most warm and humid months. You need to remove the leaves which are dead for starters and then go to your local store and buy a fungicide to spray the sunflowers. Also-mildew or gray powder mold attacks this same time of year. DO NOT WATER the plant at night or dusk. Water ONLY in the morning to give the moisture plenty of time to dry up.

For the most part, those large black ants are beneficial to the plants removing unwanted insects and possibly the fungus.I have degrees in Botany and Microbiology, ignore the rest unless you want some fun ways to kill ants.

Post by badwolf

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

I have the same problem! And these are great ideas.

I've read (but have not yet tried) that ants dislike mint. And many people plant mint around their houses to keep ants away. This is a nice enviro-friendly option for keeping your garden ant free.

For now I am trying ground black pepper around the plants, because they dislike that also - you actually see them run from it.

Post By Annabelle (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

I have black ants on my sunflowers and they will jump on me, and bite if I walk through them, or try and harvest my tomatoes, which are growing under them. They seem to be very aggressive, and the bite hurts! I have an organic spray that I must spray on the stems and leaves of the sunflowers before I can get in there to pick tomatoes. It does do a good job of repelling the ants. Has anyone else had this problem?

Post By Cindy (Guest Post)

RE: Brown Spots killing My Sunflowers

I am having Sunflower problem. They start off great every year, but sometime around August they develop brown spots all over. The leaves start to turn brown and wither. Could this be an ant problem as well as I do see a few red ants on the stems and leaves but not enough to make me think the Sunflowers ar being taken over?

PS. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada. Our summers are typically very hot and dry (77 farenheit on average in July and August). When I first started planting sunflowers, they really thrived in the climate as they seem to be very drought resistant. Now I am wondering if I should be watering them more?

Darlene

Post By Darlene (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

You didn't say what kind of ants.! sometimes it does make a difference as to what to use on them.we live in Arizona and have HUGE red ant hills and we pour plain CORNMEAL on the hills.kills the suckers ,but you'll have to do it more than once because the eggs will hatch out,and start raising their young,so kep the cornmeal for them to eat.also if you don't mind a chemical,use HOME DEFENSE by Ortho.works wonders on the small ants.also on crickets which we were overrun with..

Post By cookie (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

Try sprinkling cayenne pepper on the ground and some on the plants leaves and the sunflower itself. Ants avoid cayenne pepper.

Post By St. Pete Ken (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

Place garlic powder around the base of the plant.They shouldn't cross the garlic powder at all.

Post By Donna (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

Try Immunox by Specticide. It is a great product that I use all the time. It kills the pests instantly and it also feeds the plant.

Post by renmar94

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

Try Immunox by Specticide. It is a great product that I use all the time. It kills the pests instantly and it also feeds the plant.

Post By Karen (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

try double sided tape around the base on the sunflower. The ants will stick.
You may have ants because you have aphids, which if that is the case find some labybugs!

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Ants Are Eating My Sunflowers

cayenne pepper

Post by beanygurl

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