Has anyone tried using novelty faux plants and fruit (like the plastic holly used for Christmas decorations) to confuse insects?

Hi Joanie
What do you line the containers with? Used coffee filters comes to mind. I'm surprised that the birds aren't attracted to the spider webs, tho by that time I guess they are done with nesting. I don't know if plastic fruit would confuse insects, but my tomato plants could have used some faux tomatos. The illusion might have cheered me up this summer, lol.
kathy

I seriously doubt any insects would be 'confused' by faux plants and/or fruit and flowers.

They don't rely on appearance alone.

Rusty

I have been confused by faux fruit.
Is this something I should have shared?
LOL!

I've heard putting red glass Christmas bulbs on tomato plants early on makes critters leave them alone. I haven't tried this tho!

What kind of insects are you trying to confuse?

Leaf-footed bugs and grasshoppers, mainly. I've read about this sort of thing, but I have yet to try it, which is why I asked. I was tempted to believe green ground coverings keep insects away when I noticed the difference in the amount of insect damage on my plants before and after weeding, but I realize that's probably because the insects like the weeds better. I might have tried using them as trap crops if they weren't so hard to control.

My tomatoes are in cages, not ones from store but the fencing that has about 4x4 in. squares at upper part, great for reaching in for low growing tomatoes, then as it goes lower to ground it is about 2x4 in. rectangles & close to ground it is 1x4 in.spacing. I buy it at hardware store by the ft or 25 ft roll. Mine are about 30 in. across & I just make a circle & join . I stick a rod or stick down through the side bending a couple of the wires so stick goes in ground, to keep it in place, after I have planted the tomato,I think it is 36 or 40 in. tall. Then when birds damage 1 tomato I get out the can- can type netting, not corsage or bridal veil stuff but the larger cheaper stuff,usually can get it at thrift store. I don't care what color it is. I tie the ends in some of the squares & I get to eat the tomatoes!! Jan

Sorry, but what has this to do with Garden Junk?

We were discussing uses for non-gardening products in the garden.

Re: Kathy
Missed your reply. I would use newspaper, but since I don't get it anymore, I might have to try the yellow pages.