Tanglefoot Time

It’s that seasonal sweet spot in Rosslyn’s organic orchard we call Tanglefoot time! As I’ve explained previously, “we are purists when it comes to holistic orcharding and gardening… and we have come to rely on Tanglefoot summer after summer.” (See “How to Use Tanglefoot”.)

Cutting cardboard crepe
he bands the bark, pauses,
tightens twine, a knot.
Coaxing concoction —
gummy, oily wax,
sticky with sunlight —
from tub to tree trunk
dabbing, buttering
bug barrier on
crepe cuff, twine, and knot,
the man embraces
the tree he protects.

— Geo Davis, "Tanglefoot Tango"

Because I’ve already waxed wordy about Tanglefoot time over the years, I’ll abridge today’s tuneup into a user friendly TOC of sorts, connecting you with targeted posts relevant to your interest.

What is Tanglefoot?

Tanglefoot is a sticky substance that forms a non-toxic barrier on tree trunks, preventing crawling insects from reaching your precious foliage and fruit.

Why Do Your Fruit Trees Need Tanglefoot?

In our organic orcharding experience Tanglefoot has proven to be a reliable means of controlling:

• Tent caterpillars
• Ants that farm aphids
• Various climbing insects that damage fruit

Quick Application Guide

The materials needed for applying Tanglefoot are:

• Tanglefoot (or similar brand/product)
• Protective banding material (waterproof cardboard works best for us)
• String to secure banding
• Putty knife (or flat stick)
• Gloves (gooey gunk protection)

These are the simple steps for applying Tanglefoot to fruit trees:

1. Wrap the Trunk “We recommend using 4″ wide wrap of waterproof paper or tape on the trunk of the tree…” (How to Use Tanglefoot)
2. Secure the Banding We use burlap twine to secure banding around the trunk.
3. Apply Tanglefoot Use putty knife to smear Tanglefoot all of the way around the banding material. You can apply “in a heavy or light coat. Heavy coats are approximately 3″ wide and 3/32″ thick… Light coats are 3″ wide and 1/16″ thick.” (How to Use Tanglefoot)
4. Monitor and Maintain The pest prevention barrier remains effective until it becomes covered with insects (or debris like blown grass clippings), so check it periodically.
5. More Information Two previous posts provide a more in-depth look at “How to Use Tanglefoot” and “How to Apply Tanglefoot to Trees”. Please check them out if you would like additional guidance.

Tanglefoot & Holistic Orcharding

Our approach to organic orcharding has always been holistic, focusing on creating a balanced ecosystem rather than fighting nature. Tanglefoot is just one piece of the puzzle, working in concert with:

• Healthy soil building
• Removal of understory completion (no sod under canopy)
• Proper pruning for airflow
• Kaolin Clay and Neem Oil sprays
• Fruit thinning during growing season
• Tree wrapping and caging during non-growing season

Cleanup Tips

Tanglefoot is super tacky. Not gawdy. Just incredibly sticky! You will get gooey, especially if you’re applying Tanglefoot on a hot day. So wear clothes you don’t mind messing up, and use disposable rubber gloves. Use baby oil and a paper towel to clean hands if necessary, followed by soap and water to clean off the baby oil. Tada! Ready for next spring…

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For more details on how we apply Tanglefoot in our orchard, check out my previous post, “How to Apply Tanglefoot to Trees”.

And if you’d like to see a simple, straightforward how-to video, visit “How to Apply Tanglefoot to Trees”. Your holistic orchard will thank you with abundant fruit!