Do Ants Hurt Vegetable Plants?

Not only can they inflict a painful sting, but they cause damage to many vegetable crops, such as okra, potatoes, corn, cucumbers and watermelon. They cause the most damage to young, tender plants.

Will ants ruin my vegetable garden?

Ants Support a Healthy Ecosystem

In traditional gardening, ants aerate the soil — digging tunnels that carry water, oxygen, and nutrients to plant roots. And they also speed the decomposition of organic material, such as leaves and dead insects, thereby fertilizing plants.

Should I kill ants in my garden?

There are many ant-killing pesticides on the market but controlling ants naturally in your garden may be a better idea. Especially if you're growing edible plants, you don't want to use pesticides that can contaminate your plants and groundwater.