What is the best way to get rid of ants on peonies?

The ants are what open the flowers.They eat the sticky goo off the buds.

Dont!!!

Do not try to get rid of the ants on your peonies. This is a natural and temporary activity. It is believed that peonies produce small amounts of nectar and other ant attractants to encourage ants to help in opening the dense double flower buds found in many peonies. The ants may be found covering certain varieties and avoiding others, this is totally normal.

Once the buds have opened the ants will disappear - also normal.

Some people think ants are REQUIRED to open the flowers, but this does not to appear to be true.

It seems a debatable question whether ants are beneficial or harmful. I think they are neutral.

Should you spray a pesticide to get rid of the ants? That is a definite no. Since the ants are not harmful and some pesticide residues are harmful, why endanger yourself, the plants or thepeony's pollinator (good insects) with poisonous sprays?

Just don't spray.

Instead just enjoy the unique interaction of ants and peonies; an evolutionary effect thousands of years in the making and posing no problems in the long run.

I PICK THE PEONIE FLOWERS TO BRING INTO HOUSE. CUT FLOWERS AND THROW ON THE GROUND AND THE ANTS WILL LEAVE. SHAKE THE STEMS AND ANTS WILL DROP OFF. DO NOT REMOVE THE ANTS; THEY HELP THE BUDS TO OPEN .

Hi Dianne, Yes, the above is true. This is the work of Mother Nature. The buds will probably not open without the ants. If you want to cut some for use inside the house, fill a bucket with water and swish the flowers for a minute. Hope this helps.

DO NOT REMOVE ants on your peonies. Ants are the way that the buds can open. They 'eat' the 'glue' that make the bud tight.

You want those ants! Some peony species need them to help the flowers open. Others do not. won't hurt your flowers.

Your peonies need the ants to open the flower balls. Leave them.

yes, leave them. i have peonies that are over 50 years old (they were mom's) and the ants stay

Hello, this is one case where you need the ants to assist with the flowering.