Do Hedge Apples Really Keep Pests Away? Illinois Residents Say Yes
If you’ve lived in Illinois for more than a hot second, you’ve probably heard about hedge apples and their magical pest-repelling abilities, but do they actually work? I can tell you firsthand that answer is yes!
What Are Hedge Apples?
Some people call them Osage oranges, others call them “the weird, lumpy green apples that look like a brain.” Whatever name you use, these things have two awesome uses: adding some texture to fall decorating, and repelling pests.
READ MORE: How To Stop Boxelder Bugs From Coming In Your Home This Fall
Now, I know there are skeptics out there who think hedge apples are nothing more than an old wives’ tale, but I’m here to tell you, they actually work. At least, they’ve saved my sanity by greatly reducing the number of spiders, boxelders, and rodents that try to take up residence in my home each winter.
My First Hedge Apple Experiment
A couple of years ago, after I had reached my limit of screaming over massive wolf spiders in my basement, I read that placing hedge apples around the foundation of your home could help repel pests. So, I grabbed a bag from a local orchard, tossed them by the basement windows and back doors, and boom—within weeks, I noticed way fewer spiders and bugs.
A study at Iowa State University found that:
chemicals extracted from the fruit can be repellent to tested insects (German cockroaches, mosquitoes, and houseflies). In addition, sliced hedge apples placed in enclosed, small spaces did repel insects.
Here's one important thing to remember about using hedge apples for pest control, the smell is the key to success. Bugs and rodents hate the smell of the oils in a hedge apple, and the more you have grouped in one area, the better the outcome. Also, slicing your hedge apples will give you better results than placing whole ones around your home.
How to Use Hedge Apples Without Making a Mess
As you start to place hedge apples (whole or sliced) around your home, don't forget to put them in a dish so you don’t end up with rotting green puddles everywhere. Hedge apples usually last a couple months before they shrivel up, so stock up at local apple orchards and farmer's markets if you want protection all winter.
We put a bag of hedge apples in our freezer last fall, but we haven't used them yet. Hopefully they thaw out nicely, I'll let you know when we find out!