How do I keep ants off my mums and not killing the plant ?
The ants are not harming the mums; they are after the aphids on the mums. Ants actually “herd” and protect the aphids, because the aphids produce a “honeydew” substance that the ants eat. So the problem you need to address is the aphids, not the mums. I always prefer natural or organic solutions to pest problems when possible. No need to add to the pollution of the earth, or possibly harm the birds, your pets, or yourself. The coolest solution for aphids is ladybugs. If you see some around, just be patient – aphids are their favorite snack. The ladybug larvae, which remind me of miniature black and orange alligators, eat even more aphids than the adults. If you don’t seem to have any ladybugs around, you may be able to buy some at a local plant nursery; I’ve seen them at Home Depot before, too. But if the ladybug solution doesn’t seen do-able, try a soap spray. You can buy them commercially, already mixed and in a spray bottle, or you can make one yourself by mixing a very dilute mixtu
