The One Thing You Should Know Before Planting Peonies in Your Yard
When you think of springtime flowers, the peony is probably the first that comes to mind. Its fluffy pink blooms, refreshing fragrance, gorgeous pastel color, and easy-to-care-for nature can make you dream of filling your garden with them-but there's a catch to these pretty petals. As it turns out, peonies will bring all the ants to your yard. And, potentially, into your home.
According to the the University of Missouri's Integrated Pest Management, these flowers do in fact attract these tiny bugs. Peony buds release a sugary sap right before they're about to blossom that ants can't seem to get enough of. They'll climb all over the buds, lapping up the sap until the flower fully blooms. Although the ants cause no harm to the flower, they can become a hassle for you to deal with, particularly if they start marching across your kitchen counter.
If you're planning on pruning your peony bush to create a beautiful bouquet for your springtime table, check the petals first. The actual removal of these ants are quite easy-all you need to do is run each of the buds under some warm tap water. Once your buds open and the peony fully flowers, the ants will disappear.
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