mskitty38583

ummmm.... what is tanglefoot? inquiring minds would like to know. it sounds interesting.

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mskitty38583

there aint nothing wrong with making bad bugs burn..

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microfarmer

Tanglefoot is a barrier applied to or around something that you don't want creepy crawlys to get to. It is pinepitch based I believe. It comes in a tube...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007LTPSA?...0&linkCode=asn

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mskitty38583

oh ok. i get it now.ive never heard of it. learn somethin new every day!. does it really work? it dosent harm the plant? can you get it at lowes and can it be used on any type plant? synthetic or organic?

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bencelest

No, no Jeff.
You are helping me a lot to solve my age old fight against the aphids.
It's one of my worst enemies in my garden.
I just have to guard against them practically everyday.
If I do not see my plants for 5 days, the aphids take over the new sprouts and stunted the new buds.
I have to squeeze them with my bare hands many many times and my fingers get nasty and discolored from squeezing them.
I like your solution.

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microfarmer

Yes, it really works!! It shouldn't be applied to the plant, but to a wrap of some kind around the base of the trunk above the bulge at ground level. Be it the stretchy plastic stuff with holes (tree wrap to protect against sunburned trunks), stretchy crepe paper like wrap, or whatever. One year I found them going under the wrap...The wrap needs to be snug around the trunk to exclude the ants, but give a bit as the trunk grows and it's circumference gets bigger so as not to choke the plant. Apply the tanglefoot to the wrap in a band about 1 or 2 inches wide. I put on a goodsized bead and smear it with my finger til it's 2" wide. It'll need a new application each spring. I got mine from Home Despot. Lowe's will prolly have it too as will most gardencenters.

Benny, I used to just nip the ends of the branches with my fingers and take off the infested tips, but the trees are too tall for me to do that now and I didn't like removing all that fresh growth. One year I had ants bridge the tanglefoot with the bodies of their fellow ants, so I make my barrier about 2" wide. It'll do the job for the year. I re-wrap and reapply the tanglefoot each spring.

Now, to keep the birds and squirrels from eating all the fruit before it's fully ripened...Good luck!

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bencelest

I don't have problems with ants. I keep them at bay. But the aphids multiply so quickly once you look the other way. The way I understand it tanglefoot is for the ants and not for the aphids.

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microfarmer

Yes, it's for the ants. I noticed the ants were tending the aphids to get their honeydew which they stockpile for food. If you look closly, I would not be surprised if you found an ant trail into and out of your trees. They might be coming in from a branch that touches another plant, building, or fence instead of up the main trunk.

I found an ant trail into one of my apricot trees coming out of the hood of my truck parked next to, and touching, the tree. They were coming up the tire, over the spring, up the firewall, and out the gap between the hood and fender. They're sneaky little buggers...The ants will defend their food source and the aphid's natural predators will go to better hunting grounds, instead of fighting the ants.

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bencelest

Ah....
I'll look up close!

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