I have a rose bush that I have had for a couple of years. Yesterday I noticed that leaf cutter ants had taken every leaf off overnight, and were attacking another plant adjacent to it. I sprayed both plants with pesticidal soap, as well as spraying a large part of their trail as I didn't have any other bug killer, which did stop them from attacking the other plant at least for the moment. This isn't the first time they have attacked the rose, they also did so last year, although I caught it right as they were beginning. Putting a ring of DE around the plant, as well as on their trails, worked quite nicely and stopped them from coming back until now. Does anyone else have a problem with leaf cutters, and if so will my fix work? Also will the rose leaf out again before going dormant? Thank you.

I think your rose will put on new leaves promptly now that the ants are controlled. Your efforts seem effective.

I do, too. And good for you to have avoided unecessary heavy-duty poisons.
I don't know what leaf cutter ants are, but an excellent repellant for regular ants, is cinnamon sticks. Stick them in the ground in a protective ring around a plant-works great.

Diatomaceous earth will stop them, too. It's organic and will only kill soft bodied insects that walk through it. I sprinkle it around my roses to keep slugs from eating their leaves. Sprinkle it fairly heavy and repeat if it rains. It won't work when wet.

LittleAnnie said: Diatomaceous earth will stop them, too. It's organic and will only kill soft bodied insects that walk through it. I sprinkle it around my roses to keep slugs from eating their leaves. Sprinkle it fairly heavy and repeat if it rains. It won't work when wet.

I applied it to the ant's trails and nest, as well as applying a ring around the plant. Since it rained heavily today I will have to reapply it to the rose, as I was only intending to apply it to the trails and nest once. I also flooded the mound with a garden hose overnight, as I have heard that works. I have managed to kill multiple mounds at different times, but try as I might they just come back and dig a new nest. Hopefully this time it will slow them down for a while.

porkpal said: I think your rose will put on new leaves promptly now that the ants are controlled. Your efforts seem effective.

Thank you. I believe it will leaf out as well, but I doubt it will stay that way for long before going dormant.

bart2018 said: I do, too. And good for you to have avoided unecessary heavy-duty poisons.
I don't know what leaf cutter ants are, but an excellent repellant for regular ants, is cinnamon sticks. Stick them in the ground in a protective ring around a plant-works great.

Thanks. I always avoid using heavy poisons since I haven't found them to be necessary, and also I don't want to contaminate any edible plants. I haven't ever tried the cinnamon stick method, I'll have to get some and try it.

pepper23 said:

_Nate said: I applied it to the ant's trails and nest, as well as applying a ring around the plant. Since it rained heavily today I will have to reapply it to the rose, as I was only intending to apply it to the trails and nest once. I also flooded the mound with a garden hose overnight, as I have heard that works. I have managed to kill multiple mounds at different times, but try as I might they just come back and dig a new nest. Hopefully this time it will slow them down for a while.

The D.E. will definitely cut way down on their numbers. Ants are smart and if they see many of their colony dead from the DE they will leave it alone. Good luck with your rose growing back. The stems look very healthy and I think it will be ok.

Cinnamon sticks certainly have worked for me,and they are inexpensive and easily available.