Ants, friend or foe?

I have discovered that I have a large ant colony living in a raised bed with a really beautiful acer.

Will they do any harm to the tree? I don't want to launch an attack if they aren't a causing damage.

 

I have ants in my garden and ants trying to move in and live with me as well.

So far, I have not noticed an damage to plants in the garden from them but there again I might have friendly ants.

I talk to mine !! usually to tell them to go live in the garden and not try to invade my house and I promise them food if they agree to get out of my house. Seems to work.

 

I don´t think ants as such do any harm to plants (except perhaps south american leaf cutter ants, but I doubt you have those in your raised bed). But they often herd and papmper and protect aphid colonies, even helping them to get established. So be especially careful to keep both your eyes open for aphids.

 

Fortunately, my ants aren't that big! I might think twice about allowing them to stay if they were. I do actually quite admire them, so if they aren't going to harm my acer, I shall leave them be. Fortunately, I feed the birds all year round and my garden is alive with them. They repay me by keeping an eye on the aphids for me. Can't do any harm to have quiet chat to the ants though. Thanks.

 

My chickens like them in the garden not only do they eat them they also bath in the nest by scrapping the top off and then just lie down and let the ant crawl over them so for the chickens its a win win situation:D

 

If you have ants on your plants, (im a poet) it usually means GREENFLY, The ants are attracted to the sweet sticky substance secreted by the little gits..So get rid of them before they do the damage...Dee.

 

Yeah, as the others have said I think ants aren't generally a problem directly, but their aphid farming habits are obviously something to keep a look out for.
I tend to leave them myself, unless they start getting into the house.