Ants on Apple Tree

[LIZS]

Young apple tree , planted 2 years ago , covered in ants . No obvious nest nearby and I put powder around the base yesterday but still there today . Will they do any damage and how can we get rid please ?

they are harvesting aphids
water it LOTS AND LOTS
and then spray a very very dilute soap mixture over it (a few drops of handsoap into a 1/2 litre sprayer) - particularly any young shoots and especially distorted leaves

Thanks will have a go , thought the heavy rain might help but seemingly not .

the heavy rain will only wet the soil to 1 inch : dig down and check
for a tree it needs to be WET a foot down : the hose running with no attachment for 40 mins should do