Kitchen Garden Forum

Right, I feel a right twit. I’ve been putting sticky bands round the trunks of my apple trees (and their stakes) for years to create a sticky barrier to prevent those little climbing insects from making their way into the tree canopy and wreaking their havoc the following year.
I’ve only been putting them on with the sticky side on the outside, not next to the trunk!
It’s a lot easier to do it the right way I’ve discovered - you don’t get quite so much sticky glue all over your hands…

Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s ever done this!

Nope I think you could just be the only one lol( luckily the old grease bands were sticky on both sides, so I couldn't make that mistake)

Sticky on both sides for me too!

Are you sure there is not 2 layers to peel off from each side Adrienne? I used to end up in a right sticky mess with the bands & also questioned what could still sneak in through the gnarls in the trunk, so bought a paint on sticky thing. Just as big of a sticky mess from my side as it came with some flimsy foam applicator that fell off all the time! Also thanks for the nudge reminding me, to get this done.

Not with this particular sort Westi, no, but maybe I’ve had that sort that before and that’s why I’ve got confused about having the sticky side on the outside . I think there must be different sorts then. And as you say, it’s not foolproof anyway as some must be able to get past because of the gnarly bits of the trunk.
Those sticky bands are ‘as sticky as a stick insect stuck on a sticky bun’!

Adrienne!

I tried sticky bands last year I wasn’t impressed so from now on I’m going back to a tin of grease and a paint brush

Robo. I too would use the tin of grease, In fact one year I used lubricating grease. Had no problems.,