Growing juicy, sweet strawberries in your garden can be very rewarding. But this delicious treat unfortunately attracts some uninvited guests – ants! Ants are opportunistic pests that love the sugary fruit. While not directly harmful, they can damage ripe berries and allow fruit rot to set in. Luckily, there are several organic options to get rid of ants in strawberry plants.
Why Ants Are Attracted to Strawberries
Ants are drawn to ripe strawberries because of their sweet sugary juice. Unlike other pests ants don’t eat the fruit itself. But they will chew small holes in the skin to get to the sugary interior. This gives entry points for fungi, molds, and other decay organisms.
Ants also farm and protect other pests like aphids that feed on plants Getting rid of ants can reduce issues with these other bugs as well, Controlling ants in your strawberry patch is key to reducing damage and enjoying perfect berries all season long
Organic Ways to Get Rid of Ants in Strawberry Plants
The following natural methods can help control ants without using harsh chemicals:
Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth, a powder made from crushed fossils, around your strawberry plants. The sharp particles cut the ants and cause dehydration. Avoid inhaling it, and keep kids and pets away while applied.
Borax
Mix equal parts borax and sugar or honey to create a tempting ant bait. Place small containers near plants. Ants will ingest it and share it with the colony. While natural, borax is still toxic and should be kept away from kids and pets.
Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds sprinkled around plants repel ants with the strong scent. The abrasive texture also deters them from crossing over. Reapply after watering or rain.
Mint and Herbs
Strongly scented herbs like mint, tansy, and basil can help mask the strawberry scent trail and repel ants in the garden. Interplant with strawberries or use essential oils on cotton balls.
Chili Pepper
Ants dislike capsaicin, the spicy compound in chili peppers. Blend peppers with water and spray on and around your strawberry plants. You can also use cayenne pepper or red chili flakes sprinkled nearby. Reapply after rains.
Dish Soap
Mix 2 teaspoons of dish soap into a spray bottle filled with water. Spray directly on ants and around the garden to disrupt pheromone scent trails. The soap also breaks down ants’ waxy outer layer causing dehydration.
Petroleum Jelly
Coat the base of plants with a layer of petroleum jelly. Ants get stuck in the sticky substance and cannot climb up onto the ripening fruit.
Natural Predators
Encourage natural ant predators like birds, green lacewings, ladybugs, and ground beetles in your garden. They will help reduce ant numbers through predation. Avoid pesticides that kill beneficials.
Preventing Ants in Strawberry Plants
Prevention is key to avoid ant invasions:
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Choose disease-resistant strawberry varieties to avoid cracks and damage that attract ants.
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Clean up fallen and rotting fruits which attract ant swarms to harvest honeydew from aphids.
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Avoid overwatering and promote airflow to reduce mold, fungi, and soft fruits.
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Weed thoroughly and eliminate alternate food sources ants may want.
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Use row covers at start of season to keep ants from finding plants early.
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Put out ant baits around the garden before growing season to reduce numbers.
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Introduce beneficial nematodes to soil, which parasitize ant larvae.
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Use sticky barrier tapes and invert pots in legs of water to block access points.
With some diligence, preventing and controlling ant infestations organically is very possible. Combining good garden sanitation, barriers, and targeted treatments can help you grow perfect, ant-free strawberries. Be sure to take action at the first sign of ants before populations explode. This will keep your strawberry harvest sweet for your eating enjoyment rather than for unwanted ant visitors.
Ants or Slugs?
Ants love the sweetness of strawberries, but they are opportunistic pests. Ants usually cant penetrate the skin of strawberries on their own. Instead, they access the fruits after slugs or other pests have already damaged them. Find ants and damage. Getting rid of the ants might be as easy as getting rid of the slugs that are helping them. More Like This.
Bury a beer-filled tuna can next to the strawberry plants. This is a simple and safe way to do it. Only bury it deep enough for the can’s lid to be level with the ground. Attracted to the beer, slugs will slide into the tuna cans and drown. Getting rid of the slugs is sometimes enough to deter ants.
Smear on Some Vaseline
Putting petroleum jelly on the bottom of your strawberry plants is an easy way to keep ants away. Ants struggle to walk through it and get stuck, preventing them from reaching the strawberries. If you prefer, you can also use the product known as Tangle-Trap. Like petroleum jelly, Tangle-Trap makes the ants sticky and holds them in place.
When using either of these methods, its important to make sure your plants stand nice and tall. Ants can get around your petroleum jelly trap if any part of the plant touches the ground other than the stem.
How to Keep Ants Off Strawberries
FAQ
How do I keep ants out of my strawberries?
How do I get rid of ants on my plants?
What is the best pest control for strawberry plants?
Why do ants like strawberry plants?
How to keep Strawberry berries from getting ants?
You can also put some orange peel around the strawberry plant. Moreover, you can use a strawberry plant support to keep the berries away from ants and wet soil, thus preventing fungal diseases. Every Pack including 2 rails, 4 stakes and connecting rod that make up a complete strawberry stand.
Are ants attracted to strawberry plants?
Ants are attracted to strawberry plants due to the presence of other insects like scale insects or aphids. Inspect your plants for signs of these insects and apply appropriate insect control measures. Consider using natural solutions such as soap, ant-repellant plants, diatomaceous earth, water, petroleum jelly, or salt to deter ants.
Can pesticides kill ants on strawberries?
While chemical pesticides can effectively eliminate ants, they may also harm your strawberry plants, the environment, and beneficial insects. It’s best to avoid using harsh chemicals, especially if you plan to consume the strawberries.
How do you get ants out of strawberry plants?
A single tablespoon of soap per cup is all you need to make a robust solution that will kill off the ants invading your strawberry plants. Alternatively, you can go right to the anthill and douse it with soapy water to take all of them out in one fell swoop. If you want to be sure, use two tablespoons of lye boiled in one gallon of water.