Birch tar for Colorado potato beetles: how to treat bushes

To combat Colorado potato beetles on potatoes, birch tar should be applied as soon as the first shoots appear on the plant. A second application is recommended after three days. Birch tar for Colorado potato beetles – ingredients, processing technology, preparation, reviews, and toxic effects on insects.

Birch tar is a common remedy for Colorado potato beetles, widely used not only for agricultural pest control but also in medicine and other industries. It repellent insects by releasing a distinctive odor.

Birch tar against the Colorado potato beetle

Birch tar is the most popular and effective remedy for pest control in the garden. Its use dates back to ancient times and continues to this day. This mixture is harmless to living organisms, and its distinctive scent alone repels insects.

Therefore, for summer residents and gardeners who advocate the use of only harmless processing methods, birch tar is simply perfect.

The main thing is to familiarize yourself with the technique of obtaining and preparing birch tar, then no insects will settle in the garden and the harvest will be bountiful.

Any pest, be it Colorado potato beetles, rodents, or birds, can cause significant damage to crops. They typically appear suddenly and quickly turn potato and other vegetable leaves into a veritable sieve. In such cases, immediate action is necessary, and to avoid the use of chemical insecticides, birch tar is the best substitute.

Birch tar: composition

Birch tar, used to kill Colorado potato beetles, is a thick, oily, black substance. It may have a greenish tint in the sun. It has a repellent, pungent odor that insects, rodents, and even humans cannot tolerate.

The composition of tar is quite extensive and complex, containing numerous chemical compounds, most of which are present in the mixture in minimal quantities. The following substances make up the bulk of birch tar:

1. Toluene.
2. Organic acids.
3. Resin.
4. Phenols.
5. Xylene.
6. Dioxybenzene.
7. Guaiacol.

How tar is obtained

Birch tar against the Colorado potato beetle is obtained from birch bark by removing its outer layer. A more effective remedy can be obtained by using birch bark, which is harvested during the sap flow period, which occurs between June 20th and early July.

To obtain birch tar, a special dry distillation method is used, which involves heating birch bark to 600°C in the complete absence of oxygen. In industrial settings, specialized equipment and devices are used to quickly separate the tar.

Producing this homemade remedy to repel Colorado potato beetles requires considerable time and effort. Typically, the yield is minimal. The only way to obtain birch tar is through a special process outdoors. To do this, start a small fire and prepare a metal container with a hole through which the tar can drain.

Birch tar: how it works against the Colorado potato beetle

Birch tar has a pronounced insecticidal effect against the Colorado potato beetle, but it does not help destroy the insects; it simply repels them by emitting an unpleasant odor.

In addition to fighting Colorado potato beetles, tar helps protect potatoes and other crops from rodents, birds, wireworms, and other dangerous pests.

How to prepare the remedy

According to reviews, preparing birch tar to combat the Colorado potato beetle is quite problematic, since the resulting mixture does not dissolve in water due to its composition and specific gravity, which is approximately 0.940 g/cm3.

Therefore, the mixture is prepared using 2 methods:

1. Birch tar is mixed with a small amount of water and stirred quickly, then used immediately. This method eliminates the need for the mixture to peel off, making it suitable for plant treatment.
2. The preparation of birch tar is also determined by the following: the mixture is mixed with laundry soap and only then a small amount of water is added.

Processing

As mentioned earlier, it's important to treat potatoes and other plants with birch tar immediately after preparation. A traditional sprayer should not be used for this purpose, as it will quickly become clogged and will not provide a complete treatment.

Therefore, they resort to a common, old-fashioned method: using a broom. They soak it in the solution and spray all the plant's bushes, covering the entire area from the base to the crown.

During the treatment of plantings, you should carefully monitor the tar so that it does not begin to flake off; it needs to be stirred frequently.

Because tar is completely harmless to humans, animals, and various insects. Its main effect is based on the release of a foul odor, which helps drive away beetles and other insects from the plant and prevents further pest infestation.

Reviews

Larisa, 39 years old:

"Once, when I didn't have any chemical pest control products for Colorado potato beetles, my neighbor, an elderly woman, suggested spraying my potatoes with birch tar and explained how to prepare it properly. I'm very pleased with the results of this remedy, especially since it's harmless and costs next to nothing."

Nina Ivanovna, 65 years old:

"I've always been a proponent of all things natural and have never tolerated the use of chemicals. This also applies to treating my garden crops. That's why I always treat my potatoes and cabbage with tar, as my grandmother and mother taught me. It's a very effective product; it keeps insects away, and it's harmless to humans."

Taisiya, 48 years old:

"I've tried everything to combat Colorado potato beetles, and the chemicals alone are worth it. So, after reading some information on a forum, I learned that the plant can be sprayed with tar. Without much thought, I bought the product and applied it to my potatoes. I'm very pleased with the results. Although the product has a distinctive odor, it's safe to use and, most importantly, it's safe to use."