Mosquitoes are a big problem in many places and ticks are becoming an even bigger concern. Fire ants are more localized but they can be a real problem in the garden. Both folklore and modern day experiences suggest a remedy for these pests based on callicarpa, the beautyberry. Some people plant it in the garden to reduce insect numbers. Others prepare various concoctions to spread on clothing or skin to keep pests off and some just rub the leaves on their skin for a similar effect. One person even reported that she eats the berries and never gets bit!
As a gardener, few things are more frustrating than discovering a trail of ants crawling up your prized American beautyberry shrub While ants themselves don’t damage plants, they can protect and spread other detrimental pests like aphids or scale insects Getting rid of an ant infestation on your beautyberry ensures the health and aesthetic appeal of this gorgeous native plant. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore highly effective do-it-yourself methods for banishing ants from your beloved shrub.
Understanding Ant Behavior
Ants are persistent pests They live in large colonies and communicate via pheromone trails Worker ants endlessly forage for food to bring back and share with the rest of the colony. Common food sources include insects, sugary secretions from plants or insects (like aphid honeydew), and human food debris. When seeking out sustenance, ants often traverse structural surfaces and plants. Learning about ants helps inform treatment strategies.
Manual Removal
Vigilant gardeners can often nip small ant infestations in the bud through manual removal Inspect your beautyberry thoroughly and use a soft brush or gloved hands to wipe away any ants you spot Focus on places ants may nest or congregate, like leaf axils, branch junctures, and the base of the shrub. Repeated manual removal makes the shrub a less hospitable environment for ants.
Prune Connecting Branches
Ants access plants via touchpoints with other surfaces. Prune back any branches from nearby trees/shrubs that contact or overhang your beautyberry. Also, prune away any dead beautyberry branches that could serve as highways for ants. Pruning opens up the shrub’s interior to light and air movement, further deterring ants. Sterilize pruners between cuts to prevent spreading pathogens.
Remove Nearby Food Sources
Eliminate any outdoor human food debris, fallen fruit/berries, or garbage that could attract foraging ants. Also, control aphids, scales, and other honeydew-producing insects on your beautyberry or nearby plants so ants have no sweet treats to entice them. Promoting a clean garden minimizes what’s drawing ants to the area.
Apply a Barrier Treatment
A simple yet effective ant deterrent for potted beautyberry plants is to wrap a strip of masking tape coated with a sticky substance like petroleum jelly around the container’s rim. The tape becomes a barrier ants cannot cross without getting stuck. Reapply the sticky substance regularly to maintain efficacy. For in-ground shrubs, encircle the base with diatomaceous earth. The powder’s sharp edges injure ants when crossed.
Use Ant Baits
Bait stations draw ants in and eliminate the entire colony, including the queen, so it cannot reproduce. Place baits near ant trails/nests. Foraging worker ants eat the bait and share it with others back in the colony. Opt for baits made with borax instead of toxic pesticides. It may take time, but baits provide thorough, long-term control. Be sure to follow all label directions when using baits.
Employ Natural Repellents
Various DIY concoctions act as natural ant deterrents safe for families and pets. Spraying a mix of half water, half white vinegar directly on ants kills them and repels newcomers with the strong vinegar odor. Sprinkling coffee grounds, crushed mint leaves, ground cinnamon, or citrus peels around the soil surface also repel ants with powerful aromas they dislike. Reapply these homemade remedies after heavy rain.
Apply Horticultural Oils
Light applications of supreme or neem oil smother and kill ants on contact while being safe for plants. Both oils also have residual repellent effects. Use a spray bottle to coat ant trails, nests, and other areas with a diluted oil mixture following label guidelines. The oil dissolts the waxy coating on ants’ exoskeletons, causing lethal dehydration. Reapply oil spray every few days until ant activity ceases.
Adjust Watering Habits
Overwatering nearby plants creates the damp soil conditions ants prefer. Allow the beautyberry’s soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Focus water at the base to keep foliage dry. Correcting excess irrigation discourages ants from taking up residence in moist surrounding soil while still meeting your shrub’s moisture needs.
Consider Insecticidal Dusts
When other remedies fail to knock out persistent ant infestations, dusts containing ingredients like boric acid offer effective chemical control. These abrade ants’ bodies on contact. Lightly sprinkle dusts along ant trails and nest entry points, wearing proper protective gear yourself when applying. Do not breathe in dusts or overapply. Combining dusts with baits boosts efficacy in severe cases.
Maintain Vigilance
Regular monitoring and prompt treatment at the first sign of ants is key to protecting your American beautyberry long-term. Pay close attention to the shrub, especially in early spring when queen ants emerge to start new colonies. Be prepared to implement multiple control methods for heavy infestations. With persistence and dedication to early intervention, you can definitely safeguard the health, productivity, and beauty of your beloved American beautyberry shrub from destruction by ants!
Key Takeaways
- Remove food sources and prune adjoining branches
- Apply sticky barriers and natural repellents
- Use ant baits and insecticidal dusts responsibly
- Adjust watering habits and maintain garden cleanliness
- Monitor the shrub closely to allow rapid response
- Employ multiple integrated control methods as needed
Knowing the ins and outs of ant behavior and IPM empowers you to eradicate current and prevent future ant infestations on your prize American beautyberry shrub. Do not let ants steal the joy of growing this phenomenal native plant in your own garden. You got this!
Does Beautyberry Repel Ticks?
There are many types of ticks and it is clear from research that not all ticks react the same way. Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are the principal carrier of bacteria that cause Lyme disease in humans. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) transmits a disease known as ehrlichioses. These are the two types of ticks that were studied in the following.
Relatively pure extracted compounds from callicarpa were tested by applying each compound on cloth strips wrapped around a person’s index finger. Ticks were then placed on the fingertip. Dose amounts were similar to commercial DEET products that are known to repel ticks. Callicarpenal repelled 100% of the blacklegged ticks after 3 hours, but only 53% after 4 hours. Intermedeol repelled only 73% after 3 hours.
In comparison, only intermedeol showed limited repellency of the lone star tick, at the same dose. At nine times the dose callicarpenal and intermedeol had a repellency of 20 and 40% respectively. Most discussions of this work on the internet ignore this second finding and report that “callicarpenal is effective against ticks”.
Here are some recommendations for reducing tick populations that work.
Does Beautyberry Repel Mosquitoes?
A biting assay for mosquitoes showed that callicarpenal was 21% less effective than DEET but significantly more effective than a control (ethanol).
Another study found that “spathulenol, intermedeol, and callicarpenal showed significant repellent activity against the mosquito species A. aegypti and Anopheles stephensi”.
How To Get Rid of Ants in Grass Naturally
FAQ
How do I get rid of ants on my berry bushes?
How to get rid of ants without killing plants?
What to spray on plants to keep ants away?
Why are there ants on my shrubs?
Is American beautyberry a low maintenance plant?
In general, American Beautyberry is a low maintenance plant. You want to let a beautybush spread and sprawl without much pruning. However, you can prune it back to about a foot above the ground at the end of winter. This will help it grow more compactly, especially for a mature plant.
How do you grow American beautyberries?
Keep them protected for the first year, and plant them outdoors the following winter. Plant American beautyberries in a location with light shade and well-drained soil. If the soil is very poor, mix some compost with the fill dirt when you backfill the hole. Otherwise, wait until the following spring to feed the plant for the first time.
How do you care for a beautyberry plant?
Beautyberry plants tolerate full sun to partial shade, and while they like moist soil, they can tolerate somewhat dry conditions. Enjoyed mainly by wildlife, humans can also consume beautyberries, best served as a jelly. Here are the main care requirements for growing a beautyberry plant: Plant in native soil within beautyberry’s growing zones.
How do you remove a beautyberry Bush from a nursery pot?
Be careful when removing your beautyberry bush from the nursery pot it was growing in. Gently try to lift the plant from the pot. If the rootball is stuck in the pot, to avoid damaging the plant, cut the container away.