The instructions on Tanglefoot say not to apply directly to the trees. There is a tape you are supposed to buy separately. The tape is put on the tree and then you apply the Tanglefoot to the tape. I really don't think there is any thing in the product that would hurt your trees though. It just leaves a ring that some growers would not find attractive. I paint my trees and apply it over the paint and I'm not worried. There are members in the fig forum that have been applying it directly to their trees for years without any problem other than the ring left behind.

I put it directly on my cherry tree and it looks pretty much like that. There has been no apparent harm. I think many people do that.

When I reapply this year I may put some plastic wrap around the tree first. Whatever I use to go in between I want to make sure will flex or degrade instead of girdling.

Yeah, I just wrap some very thin cardboard and use some duct tape then Tanglefoot it. I figured the duct tape would degrade and fall off after one season, it's still there after 2 and half seasons so far.

I would put down stretch wrap first.

I agree with Harvestman use stretch wrap.

Clean the tangle foot off with orange based cleaner. The stain stays for years and won't come off when it dries out.

By "stretch wrap", you mean "plastic/Saran wrap", right? I'll look for an orange based cleaner, and try to clean it off and re-apply. Thanks guys,
-Glenn

That's the stuff.

The Tanglefoot company makes two different products (among others) and they are worth noting:

TangleFOOT is mostly used on the bands put on the trunks of the trees....to help control migration on the trunk. These are natural resins, castor oil, and wax. and are nothing to worry about.

http://www.tanglefoot.com/products/barrier.htm

TangleTRAP is a different product that is more odorless (I think) and (as I recall in talking with a representative a few years ago) may have some additives that require a little more precaution when handling. TangleTRAP, as opposed to Tanglefoot is much more effective when used with apple maggot traps and may have been what you purchased.....People trapping for apple maggot fly need to get TangleTrap if they want greater effectiveness.

I suspect "no worries mate" (as they say in Australia) either way.

It was said "I put it directly on my cherry tree and it looks pretty much like that. There has been no apparent harm. I think many people do that. "

And if you do that for a number of successive years, you *will* damage the bark and girdle the tree.

If you are unsure what to do initially with Tanglefoot, consider buying the Tree Care Kit that contains all the pieces. It really pays to take a few minutes to read the directions carefully before applying this stuff. I'm not affiliated with this company in any way, but highly recommend its products.

Two years ago, I ignored the instruction not to put Tanglefoot directly on the bark, then later noticed the stain and worried about hurting the bark. So last year I bought the "ready to Apply" kit with sticky foam pieces. Either I misinterpreted the directions, or the directions actually said to put the sticky side right on the trunk. I tried to remove the foam bands at the end of the season but could not. One full year later, lots of that foam is still there, and I am very worried about damaging or even near-girdling the trunks. Fortunately I didn't use it on all my trees. I can't recommend the kit, but I may try Tanglefoot again with Saran wrap.

Glenn: Eyuuuuuu gross! Better hope the gardening columnist for your regional news outlet doesn't drive by and take pictures. How about pressing some Spanish Moss to it to give your trees a decorative look?

O.K. I'll shut up.

I put a ring of Vaseline around my Sunburst cherry to stop ants farming aphids on it. That was 3 or 4 years ago and the Vaseline was still there the last time I checked. It's worked faultlessly too.

I tried this stuff years ago, and agree that it shouldn't go directly on the trunk. Especially on young trees with thin bark. Also found that it's ineffective if you live where there's lots of dust blowing around, it gets a skin on it that ants can cross. Same with petroleum jelly, which has the added drawback of melting off in summer heat.

I like harvestman's saran wrap idea, much easier than attaching cardboard strips.

A few years ago, I too tried the vaseline as an organic way to stop the ant farming. A few days after I applied it, I noticed ants crawling right over it.

Tanglefoot softens the bark and is not supposed to be good for it. That said, last year there were so many bird pecks on the peaches, I got out the tanglefoot and put lots of it on several places on the branches to stop the birds (the birds had brought me to my breaking point). I noticed this season, I have lots of spots like Glenn's pictures show.

So far it hasn't seemed to affect performance that I have noticed.

This year I plan on using the bark wrap that comes in rolls to apply the tanglefoot onto. Just secure it with a piece of good quality duct tape. I have some brown colored rolls that I need to use up, as I now will now be using the white colored stuff in the fall for its intended use. Two reasons to do so. The bark wrap is stretchy, and so should not girdle. My second reasoning is that this predesignated bark usage material will be better air permiable than saran wrap. I don't want any additional moisture induced pathegens to have to do battle with.

that this predesignated bark usage material will be better air permiable than saran wrap.

I just went out and put tanglefoot using saran wrap and that came to mind, since I'm still watering the trees only sometimes using a hose.