3 Highly Effective Methods to Stop Ants, Aphids, and Pests on Fruit Trees

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:07]Look at these leaves covered with leaf miner trails, holes caused by caterpillars and snails, and ants crawling all over the plant.

[00:00:16]Many people think only pests directly cause damage. But in reality, ants are what make the situation much worse.

[00:00:24]They protect aphids to collect their sweet honeydew and unintentionally help insects spread throughout the plant, especially on the young shoots.

[00:00:34]Meanwhile, snails and leaf eating caterpillars continue feeding, causing holes in the leaves and weakening the plant even faster.

[00:00:43]Today, I'll share three natural ways to stop ants, reduce pests, and protect young shoots.

[00:00:55]These are leaf miners. Their larve tunnel inside young leaves, causing them to curl and become deformed.

[00:01:13]There are also leaf eating caterpillars and snails causing large holes like these.

[00:01:19]And especially ants. Ants do not harm the plant directly, but they protect aphids to collect honeydew, causing pests to thrive more aggressively on young shoots.

[00:01:34]I will remove the severely damaged leaves to reduce places where pests can continue hiding and help the plant focus its energy on growing healthier new leaves.

[00:01:52]Let me know where in the world you're watching this video from, which plant or tree of yours is being affected, and what kind of pest you're trying to fight.

[00:02:19]to reduce places where pests can continue hiding and help the plant focus its energy on growing healthier new leaves.

[00:02:28]Because if the area around the plant remains damp and full of hiding places, pests will quickly return.

[00:02:38]And this is also the most important foundation step before applying the next natural methods.

[00:02:47]But cleaning alone is not enough. If ants are still climbing the plant, aphids and insects will quickly return to the young shoots.

[00:02:56]So next, I will create a barrier to block ants around the stem.

[00:03:01]Prepare a clean, dry piece of cloth about 40 cm by 30 cm.

[00:03:08]However, the size can be adjusted depending on the thickness of the plant stem.

[00:03:13]Fold the cloth several times until it is about 5 cm wide. The most important part of this trap, apply a slippery substance. In this case, I will use used cooking oil.

[00:03:27]A plastic bottle.

[00:03:30]Cut about 10 cm from the flattest part of the plastic bottle.

[00:03:35]This will be the outer shield that helps keep the oil layer more stable in sunlight or light rain.

[00:03:49]Then cut a vertical slit so the plastic piece can be opened completely. This way it will be easier to place it around the plant stem.

[00:04:09]First, wrap the cloth around the plant stem about 30 cm above the base and secure it firmly with wire or a plastic zip tie.

[00:04:19]This layer helps protect the bark, preventing the oil from directly contacting the stem for a long time.

[00:04:45]Then wrap the plastic layer around the outside of the cloth.

[00:05:00]Secure it with another piece of wire or a zip tie. It must be completely firm and not move out of place.

[00:05:17]And the most important part of this trap, the slippery layer.

[00:05:26]It can be cooking oil, olive oil, or any type of usable oil you have at home.

[00:05:32]Apply a thick layer over the entire inner surface of the plastic piece, covering it completely.

[00:05:39]When ants crawl onto the slippery surface, they lose their grip and struggle to get past this barrier.

[00:05:49]This trap is quite easy to maintain. You only need to check it once a week to ensure the surface remains slippery.

[00:05:57]If the oil layer dries out after rain, wind, or dust buildup, simply reapply oil or petroleum jelly.

[00:06:05]This is a simple natural gardening method that helps prevent ants from carrying aphids onto young shoots.

[00:06:15]Next is an underground layer of protection using dietimmacous earth, a very fine natural mineral powder.

[00:06:24]These tiny mineral particles can damage the outer protective layer of crawling insects.

[00:06:32]Once they lose that protective layer, the insects gradually dehydrate and weaken.

[00:06:39]Sprinkle it in a continuous ring around the base of the plant.

[00:06:44]But there is one very important thing.

[00:06:47]This powder works most effectively when it stays dry.

[00:06:52]So after rain or heavy watering, you should apply it again to maintain its effectiveness.

[00:07:00]And now this is the method that directly targets the infestation. If pests have already appeared on the plant, use an organic mixture made from one chili pepper, three cloves of garlic, and a little ginger. Chop them first to make blending easier.

[00:07:48]Blend thoroughly with about 250 to 300 ml of water.

[00:08:24]after. blending. Let the mixture sit for about 6 to 12 hours so the active compounds can release more effectively.

[00:08:43]Next, strain the mixture thoroughly before pouring it into the spray bottle.

[00:08:52]This helps prevent the spray nozzle from clogging and reduces residue buildup that can burn the leaves under strong sunlight.

[00:09:15]Then dilute it with an additional one liter of water to make the solution safer for the young leaves of citrus plants.

[00:09:39]After preparing it, pour it into a spray bottle and spray directly onto all the affected areas of the plant.

[00:09:47]Focus on the underside of the leaves and the newly emerging shoots. These are the places where larvai and leaf miners usually appear first.

[00:10:00]Right after spraying, you may not see the pests react immediately, and that is completely normal.

[00:10:06]As it dries, the natural oils will remain on the leaves, helping repel insects and reduce pests on the young shoots.

[00:10:14]Have you ever tried any of these methods? Share your results in the comments below. And if you found this video helpful, don't forget to leave a like and subscribe to the channel. See you in the next video.