Completely unrelated to birds.. in a way

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venetta
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Joined: 10 Nov 2011, 12:05
Location: Huntingdale, WA

I've got a semi-dwarf lemon tree in the back yard and it just seems that the ants can't stay away from it!

Has anyone got any natural sort of remedies I can spray or apply to keep the ants away??

The tree is in a wooden half barrel planter and is probably only 5-6m away from our aviaries, so I don't really want to apply anything nasty that could potentially affect the birds...

Any advice is greatly appreciated :):)
Venetta and Kylie
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jusdeb
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Location: Dubbo, NSW
Location: Western Plains NSW

Spray the outside of the barrel and the ground around it with coopex made up stronger than directed .

Ive accidently hit plants with it and all that happens is it leaves a powdery residue , the plants dont suffer at all and I spray directly inside aviaires while the birds are still in them with no problems either .(not directly on birds ).
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
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finchbreeder
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Location: Midwest of West.Aust.Coast

Thick layer of petroleum jelly or vasaline all the way round the trunk. The rotten little so and so's can't get through it.
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venetta
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I've not seen coopex before, i've only seen it referred to numerous times on the forum.. Where could I get it from??
Venetta and Kylie
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jusdeb
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Bunnings or probably any other hardware store , produce stores or garden centres .
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
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venetta
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Location: Huntingdale, WA

Cheers deb.
We usually visit bunnings at least once a week, so I will have to look out for it next time I am there!! :D
Venetta and Kylie
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MadOzzie
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Location: Gold Coast, Queensland

If the ants are climbing the tree they are probably after the "juice" excreted by aphids or scale. Ants are known to farm these criters and then "milk" them. You will need to spray for aphids or scale, too.

MadOzzie
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venetta
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Location: Huntingdale, WA

Thanks MadOzzie,

Are they the same aphids that you find on roses?? We've got roses out the front, but nowhere near the lemons...

What works for aphids and scale that wont cause any possible harm to the birds? :/
Venetta and Kylie
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finchbreeder
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With aphis, get a paint brush and dust them off into a dish for the finches. With scale (yuk yuk) use your fingers and squish them. :shock:
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natamambo
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Location: Melbourne

I got my Coopex off fleabay, cheaper that way.
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