We have several dwarf cherry trees(100) and have been struggling getting familiar with maintaining for pests and other conditions. Recently have came across a really great article from this site regarding sweet cherry trees. Very informative and educational. So the learning process is taking course and would like to try to maintain these trees as organic as the previous owner had planted and raised them. One corner of the orchard is getting small little ants always starting on one side only so obviously on needs to find their hill close by. Now how is the most effective way to deal with these little buggers with some type of organic control, if any? A large percentage of these trees have a greenish appearance up the base on the bark about 12-18" high. Tried to take a pic. but it won't show well enough to review. It almost appears fungus like, no residue or powder created when rubbing. ??? Any suggestions, would help. Perhaps the previous person treated these with something I'm not aware and imagining some defect, I just don't know. LOL
The green on the bark sounds like a lichen or algae growing, which I wouldn't worry about. Ants usually are travelling up the tree to feed on aphids, which can sap some of the tree's vigor. I recently made a barrier on the trunk of another tree (Italian plum) on which the ants were drinking flower nectar and destroying the flowers at the same time. I just wrapped some duct tape round the trunk then smeared it with auto grease.
Hi Siggy! Growest has a great idea, and inexpensive, but we tried grease and it didn't weather well. If you want something that stays through the weather try Tree Tanglefoot. It's also non-chemical. Look it up on the internet. We banded our trees with this and both aphids and ants disappeared. Ants herd aphids like cattle. They also were destroying the flower buds on our fruit trees until we banded them. Took the bands off late fall to give the trees a breather, put them back early. Don't get this stuff on yourself or clothes or tools as it takes some doing to get it off, but it sure is effective, also against all the other grubby vandals which shinny up trees. Wonder if anybody has tried this to discourage raccoons? Our garden is fenced. Lynetta
Similar idea, but we also put the duct tape sticky side out, then smeared the Tanglefoot. Works like a charm. One caution; remove the tape after the first hard freeze in the fall. We had some odd bark marks after leaving one on all winter.
Thanks for that improved answer Lynetta. I didn't have the tanglefoot around and just wanted to stop the ants immediately...they were doing the exact thing you mentioned, destroying the flowers on the Italian Prune to get at the nectar. Sounds like the tanglefoot is worth buying if the barrier needs to be long term, since I wouldn't remember, or want to, to apply fresh grease regularly :-)
Forgot to mention, in case anyone flinches at the idea of doing things in, this doesn't--it just deters them. We shook our little trees to get the ants off. The little 'sugar' ants rushed down in lock step file, thinking a storm was coming. The big ones were 'every man for himself'. Some ran, some jumped, some fell, some got flicked off with thumb and forefinger. We hardly got the bands on before the ants were back. We watched as they galloped up the tree, hit the band, backed off, tried again, ran round and round and finally left in frustrated disgust, never to return. Guess they went and told their buddies that the source was permanently closed. Ants are smart little critters. Silver Creek is right though, about the banding. First year we used slices of cut up rubber inner tube. Nice but difficult. We fasten with hockey tape on the lapped over material. This year we've tried cut up plastic shopping bags. It needs to be something impervious which doesn't let the grease through to the bark. We worried about tape, as some of the glues they use are not so great for vegetation. Reversing it may be the quick fix we need. Be sure the little vandals can't get under the bottom closure--make it close. And yes, do take them off late fall when trees and bugs are dormant. The bark needs to grow. We don't want to strangle the tree. Have fun gardening--in the rain?! Lynetta
