Dryer sheets to deter cut ants ...

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

The thread about leaf cutter bees morphed into a discussion about cut ants where I mentioned that my friend Linda M has been tucking dryer sheets around the bottom of plants that are frequently laid bare by cut ants. She's had good results.

This is how she does it:

...

...

This is what she says:

"I'm telling you those dryer sheets are working like a charm. I have never ever ever had that knockout rose bloom since I got it because the cut ants strip it! It has the only flowers it's ever had this year. It's now covered in roses and buds.

"On the crepe myrtle I stapled 4 pieces together to make a long rope kind of thing and then staple it together and stuck some more pieces down where the branches forked. The cut ants have always, and I mean always, stripped these crepe myrtles continuously. Since I've done this with the crepe myrtles they have not touched any of them!

"I wondered if whatever is in those dryer sheets would harm the plants but apparently not, because the plants have been watered plus we've had three and a half inches of rain. There is no evidence of any damage at all.

"The H-E-B brand of dryer sheets are $0.99 which is cheap enough. I'll just stuff a fresh one in there every now and then around the different plants."

Linda M. is the person I mentioned that had moved her rocks from one house to another several times ... :-)

Featured Answer

mamachile

8 years ago

Ragna, I’m going to try that dryer sheets on my hummer feeder. Good idea. Yes, the squirrels peel the bark around every branch. The bag just scared them away with it puffing in the wind.

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Comments (10)

User
8 years ago
I love this board! I got cheap dryer sheets at Aldi’s and don’t like them at all. Now I’ll save them if needed!

And love the rock. :)
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked User
mamachile
8 years ago
Interesting idea Ragna. It looks like that tree is wearing an underwear. That reminds me that I hang a black trash bag around a 10 foot tall pecan tree about four feet off the ground from being skinned alive by squirrels and it is working.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked mamachile
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needmoremulch
8 years ago
They stripped my three Old Blush roses again, so I'm headed out to try to the dryer sheets!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked needmoremulch
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Mizan, yes it does ... lol. And thank you for your tip! Were the squirrels gnawing the bark? Whatever the problem, that's an ingenious solution and easier than installing a metal collar which I've seen recommended to keep squirrels out of mature pecan trees.

NMM, Linda M started using the dryer sheets on a whim remembering that sticking a couple in your back pocket had been recommended to keep mosquitoes away when outside. I've tried that and it works.

She looked further into the subject on line this morning and sent a couple of LINKS. The second links refers to research showing why some brands work better than others depending what it is in dryer sheets that have the repellent qualities. Linda says the inexpensive HEB brand is what she's using and finds to be working. I hope it works for you. Let us know.
bossyvossy
8 years ago
I got rid of dryer sheets but may get some for my redbud. What I think are cutter bees adore this tree.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Bossy, I don't know if dryer sheets would keep the leaf cutting bees off your redbud, but you can try and let us know. It seems the cut ants won't walk across them.
User
8 years ago
Wonder if this would work on hummer feeders? Will try this.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
8 years ago
Jo, it should work. One of the links about using dryer sheets said:

"Place a dryer sheet above a hummingbird feeder to prevent the ants from infiltrating the sugar solution. Wrap the dryer sheet around the top of the feeder and secure each end with a tight rubber band. The ants will avoid the dryer sheet, keeping the sugar solution free of swimming ants."
User
8 years ago
“Swimming Ants”

we have big s

just hate to see them die.

thanks

jo
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked User