Ants in my plants

[StephenH]

Wandering round my demesne yesterday, I noticed ants scuttling up and down the trunk of my 'Egremont Russet' apple tree (planted 2008, on M26 rootstock). Not all that many of them, but should I be worried?

[zazen999]

It's likely that you have got aphids and the ants are farming them for sap; look closer further up the tree and see.

[FB.]

My apple trees are heaving with aphids. On the vigorous new growth, all the new leaves are curled and the ants are "farming" the aphids.
Great tits, robins and goldfinches are regularly stopping by for an aphid snack when they feel peckish.

[FB.]

Actually, two of my apple trees stand out as always being aphid-free; my two Tydeman's Late Orange which never seem to be attacked by aphids despite just about all of my others being badly affected.

For anyone thinking about trying Tydeman's Late Orange; it definitely prefers a dry, mild, sunny climate and is at its best in East Anglia and the SouthEast of England.

For those interested in TLO:

Mildew: very resistant.
Scab: partial resistance.
Canker: partial resistance.
Apple aphids: very resistant.
Woolly aphid: tolerant.
Bitter pit: very resistant.
Fireblight: susceptible (not ideal for warm wet conditions).
Drought: tolerant (tree health and fruit quality cope well with long dry spells).

Attractive, frost-resistant, self-fertile blossom; rarely fails to set a heavy crop which often results in small fruit and some tendency towards biennial bearing.

Fruit ripens very late and requires a warm, sunny autumn to develop properly.

Tree has long, slender, drooping, plentiful, well-placed branches which don't require much training. However, in windy/exposed locations the slender branches and fruit spurs break easily unless the tree is kept compact and stout-branched.

[Jardiniere]

Demesne! Love it................

[StephenH]

Demesne! Love it................

Good!
Thanks for the advice. I remembered about aphid-farming afdter posting the O.P. I'll check it tomorrow, and if necessary deal with both aphids and ants with something organic. I've got a bottle of 'Organic Bug-free' (I think that's what it's called), so I might try that, if it's effective against aphids, ants, or both. I don't like using even organically-approved pesticides as a matter of course, but if it'll get rid of the blighters, I'll do so.

[StephenH]

Had a look for aphids this morning. Couldn't see any. I don't think ants are harmful in themselves, so I'll leave them alone for now, but keep an eye on things.

[Two_Sheds]

if necessary deal with both aphids and ants with something organic.

Birds are organic.

Hang some nut feeders or fat balls in the affected trees to attract them

[StephenH]

Birds are organic.

Good point! :-)

[AkionTotocha]

Hah! I get it!

"Ants in my plants" - not pants!

[StephenH]

Hah! I get it!

"Ants in my plants" - not pants!

Was that the sound of a penny dropping I just heard?