sunflowers

Have a look and see if they're infested with aphids, either black or greenfly - ants "herd" them and protect them on plants because they want the honeydew they secrete. That's the usual reason why ants are running up and down plants.

The ants won't harm the sunflower but as Bamboo says they are probably after the aphids. Have a close look for any green or brown or black little bugs up around the growing tips. You can kill the aphids with soapy water.

Yes they do not damage the plants directly but they do protect the aphids from our friendly predators soin the end the aphids will kill the plant.

I am spraying my foxgloves with a solution I prepared with peppermint and cinnamon essential oils mixed with bicarbonate, few drops of ecover washing up liquid and water - it should not be bad for plants but looks like it's working a bit.

I ordered some Boric acid so I will prepare some bites with icing sugar for them to take back to their nests.

what fab tips Ualda, my washing liquid spray mix seems to take no effect now, its seems they all laugh when they see me aproach with my spray will get some of these when Im back from hols

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Gerbera55 I also have sunflowers from seed for first time, they are areal bright smiley face to come out too first thing in the morning

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It looks like that my improved home made repellent is working not only against ants but cats too - in a mug I put some bicarbonate, few drops of Mandarin, tee tree, peppermint and cinnamon leaf essential oils, neem oil and e-cover whashing up liquid I dilute this paste with water and then I spry everything in the gardens and home plants too; this mixure should be good as well for the plants because it is a fungicide and antiviral too.

What is working best is the cinnamon powder, I springled it all around and they seems like disappiaring from that area.

I wanted to say thank you so much to you all for the wonderful ideas to get rid of the ants off my sunflowers. They haven't come out yet but hope they do. thank you thank you thank you. lovely to know this site exits and with such wonderful advice. Cheers Gerbera55 xx