Hedge balls as a deterrent?

Osage Hedge Balls (aka Hedge Apples or Horse Apples)

There has been much speculation about the use of Osage hedge balls as a means of deterring spiders. They seem to have a great effect when placed in your home at eliminating the eight-legged creatures. As far as I can research at the moment, you can only buy these in the US although it is true that the Osage hedge actually originated in the UK so maybe there is an untapped source there somewhere. If I find one, you will be the first to know!

Below are some facts about hedge balls I have collected for you …

Where do hedge balls come from?
Hedge balls are the fruit of the Osage Orange Tree (Maclura pomifera).

Are they edible?
No - but they are not poisonous. Squirrels love to eat the seeds of the hedge ball.

What was the Osage Orange Tree used for?
In the 1800's, they were planted as a living fence - or hedge - along the boundaries of farms. The hedges were pruned to promote bushy growth. The criteria for a good hedge made with the Osage Orange Tree was, "Horse high, bull strong and hog tight." By the invention of barbed wire in the 1880's, the hedge became obsolete.

Is the wood of the tree used for anything?
Yes. It was and still is used for fence posts. The wood is so strong and dense that it will neither rot nor succumb to the attacks of termites or to insects for decades. The Native Americans used the strong yet limber branches for the construction of their bows.

How do I use these hedge balls?
People place them in cupboards, around basement windows, on garage floors and around the inside and outside of the house.

Do I need to place these "balls" inside a dish or something?
Some people have reported that they have never had a problem with them leaving any residue as they age and dry. Others "play it safe" and place them in a bowl, on a piece of foil or plastic. Some balls could possibly ooze a sticky substance.

What is the life span of these hedgeballs?
This all depends on the conditions they are placed in. If they are kept from freezing and extreme heat, they could last 1 to two months. Although some can develop spots at an early stage, Hedgeapples should only be discarded once most of the green has disappeared.

Can you tell me if hedge balls are toxic to pets?
Hedge balls are not toxic. They are similar to orange peels. Although, many cattle have died from hedge balls because they get lodge in their throats and they suffocate. Your cat or dog will turn there nose away from hedge balls.

Do hedge balls have an offensive odor to the human nose?
No. They have no odor, sometimes a slight orange peel smell. In fact after their period of usefulness, they will turn black and still not smell.

I just saw a "Hedge Ball" for the first time today in a grocery store. They sell them to repel insects. I looked at the internet to find out what they are, and it states for insects and decorations. Besides these 2 uses, why are they grown? What is their original purpose? They are not edible I assume! Do animals eat them?
The trees were not planted for the fruit. They were planted for wind breaks or for posts. No trees that I know were planted for the fruit. Hedge balls are not edible for taste reasons only, they are listed as not toxic on publish toxin lists. However, cattle eat them and sometimes choke and die from them.

I am not sure what this apple is. Do you know if this the same thing that we call horse apples in Texas?
They sure are. It seems Texas and Arkansas like to call them horse apples. In Kansas horse apples are the things you see smashed in the street after a parade!

Is it legal to ship hedge balls, which contain seeds, to states that do not have native osage orange populations? Does this violate State or Federal Laws regarding the introduction of non-native species?
I do not know officially the answer to your question. I know that Osage Orange (hedgeapple trees) are native to United States and were planted across the nation for fences and wind breaks in the 1800's and early 1900's. It is inconceivable that they could ship anywhere in US where they were not introduced before. If you know of anything different, please let me know.

How is the supply of hedge balls during winter months?
Hedge balls are naturally available in the US until mid November. There have been experiments this year on preservation of hedge balls using refrigeration, vacuum bags and CO2 storage methods. So far the results are looking good. Go to the US websites listed below and check with them.

When is the best time to pick hedge balls in northern Missouri?
The easiest time is to pick them from the ground after the first good frost. Some say those are the best hedge balls. My feeling is they will work to repel insects after they lose their spore styles (around 4 inches in dia, mid-July in Kansas). The survey indicates equal success with hedgeapples July through November.

If you pick them off the ground or without the stem, will it affect their bug-repellant properties? Also, what sort of container should I put them in to put them in our home?
Put them in a plastic container or on a plastic plate I leave the stems on (July thru Sept.) because the leakage stains the hedge balls. A black spot develops where the stem is pull away from. The immediate effectiveness is enhanced by slicing or coring the hedge ball. They will last much longer if they are left untouched. However, some people claim they do not do as much good. My opinion is have two and do both methods. Picking them off the ground means they are almost ready to let their juice seep out. These juices that collect at the bottom of the tray are very effective when allowed to evaporate into the surrounding air. Remember, hedge balls repel, they don't kill like raid. You will see insects move around until they find a hospitable location. Hopefully this is outside!

Thanks to the websites www.osagehedgeballs.com and www.hedgeapple.com
for the information displayed on this post. You can order your apples from these sites in the US.

For help on spider control please visit my specialist website www.spiderpanic.com