[chrissie B]

We have a problem here in Greece that bugs especially ants attack our fruit trees, the ants bore into them and cause damage. I have been told that if I paint the lower few feet of the trees with old engine oil this will stop them climbing up the trees. is this true and how long should the oil be left on the trees?
                                  chrissie b

[muntjac]

dont use oil use car grease get some bandages and coat them in it ,wrap the bandage around the trunk as low as you acn ,, reapply the grease every6 myhs ,cover it abouta foot up the trunk ,,,, best i have ever used yet

[Trillium]

Still use the bandages but you could substitute petroleum jelly for the grease. That works just as well. Or, there's a commercial product called Tanglefoot which works on this principle.

[mushroom]

Still use the bandages but you could substitute petroleum jelly for the grease. That works just as well. Or, there's a commercial product called Tanglefoot which works on this principle.

Over here, Tanglefoot is a [strong] beer!  

[chrissie B]

we did try fly papers wound around the trunk once and it worked for a little while but then found the ants already up the tree were coming up to the paper and jumping off the tree kamikasi style.
chrissie b

[muntjac]

plenty grease will fix em  :evil:

[chrissie B]

thanks for the advice
chrissie b

[Contadino]

Here in Italy, when this problem happens, we calce/limewash the tree trunks.  The first 70cm should do it.

[normaroo]

There's a video on this site about lime washing fruit trees.

http://www21.sbs.com.au/vasilisgarden/index.php?pid=recipes

[chrissie B]

thanks for that web site its great will look more into it later , thanks
chrissie b

[chrissie B]

had a good look now and its got some good tips specally liked the lemon tree i think it was and he had grafted on oranges and grapefruit and something else and they were all growing happy together .
chrissie b