"cure" for aphids and ants?
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: "cure" for aphids and ants?
- From: "* A* O* <s*@poboxes.com>
- Date: Mon, 09 Nov 1998 10:58:30 -0800
at 10:12 AM 11/9/98 EST, K1MIZE@aol.com wrote:
> <snip>
>Does anyone have a "cure" for aphids and ants? I have a plague of aphids
>(being "farmed" by ants) on my plum trees every year. I've tried
malathion on
>the aphids, and that works for a week or two, but the ants seem to repopulate
>the trees with aphids very quickly. I've also tried diazanon around the base
>of the trees to repel the ants, but that only seems to divert them until it
>gets washed away. I'd prefer not to have to resort to chemical sprays every
>year. Ideas, anyone?
>
>Thanks,
>Kurt Mize
>Stockton, California
Kurt -
I had a friend in Davis years ago who swore by Tansy (Tanecetum vulgare)
planted at the base of his fruit trees. It is a handsome and easily
grown ornamental which previously had lots of herbal uses as a repellant
for ants and flies, part of the standard 'stewing' herbs of ancient times.
He planted rings of this plant around the truck of trees that had a
tendancy to become infested and found them very effeective in keeping the
ants away. I have not used this plant myself but have routinely heard
of it being exploited in this manner.
Sean O.
Sean A. O'Hara sean.ohara@poboxes.com
h o r t u l u s a p t u s 710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose' Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
