Lots of ants in soil

[IndigoElectron]

I started to sow some seeds in my square foot garden today (in a border, not a raised bed) and noticed that there were loads of ants in the soil.

I like ants but have no idea if they are a pest or are beneficial. The soil is very light and crumbly, but also full of stones - is this anything to do with the ants?

And will my seeds be okay? Please don't tell me the ants will eat them all

[kt6382]

e interested to hear the reply to this too as my new garden seems to be swarming with ants! The flower beds have pretty loose, small pieces of soil like you mentioned and lots if ants about. &the front lawn seems to have lots of those weird little soil patches that ants make.. Not nice to sit in lawn full of ants

[Jeanied]

Ants like dry soil - so to keep your plants happy and get rid of them humanely it might be wise to water well. Same if you find them in your compost heap.

[simon12]

I think my garden is 1 big ants nest, the only harm they seem to do is farming aphids underneath the leaves of black currants (also pear tree but thats big enough to cope), last year I got fed up of removing them and just let them get on with it. Luckily no sign of them yet this year.

[Two_Sheds]

Ants like dry soil

Indeed, and sandy loose soil is dry soil. I get loads of ants too, but they aren't usually* a problem on the allotment: I farm them to feed my goldfish :
I have concrete stepping stones on my plot that the ants like to nest under. Now & again I lift the slab, scoop up the eggs & feed the fish.


* they do farm aphids though. If you see ants running up & down your plants, esp. your broad beans, it means you've got aphids, so get squishing.

also ants' tunnels can undermine some plants, esp lettuce, so prepare to lose a few

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks all. I can cope with a few losses, as long as they don't eat all the seeds I've just sown! I've given the soil a water and will keep an eye on it.

[Shadylane]

I'm pretty sure ants don't eat seeds, though who knows... I have them in every bed, every year. The most harm they do is crawl down your glove or sock and bite you (the red ones that is). I'm doing well this year, haven't been bit yet....

[The poly tunnel poet]

Ants eat seed coats(testa) and break seed dormancy.... the name for this is known as myrmecochory in Helebores and other plants too....

(Myrmecochory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)