Q: Ants are all over my trumpet vine and garden in general. Is there an environmentally safe way to remove them?

A: Wet weather is likely the cause of an unusual pattern of behavior in the ants around your home. Frequently saturated soil drives ants up and out of their colonies. They are attracted to the trumpet vine because it produces abundant nectar. The ants will cause no harm to your plants. A garden hose can be used to spray them off the plants.

Ants are beneficial because they keep the soil turned and add organic matter back to it, which will improve soil structure over time.