Illinois Lawns Full of Hedge Apples? Learn Their Surprising Uses
These large green apple-looking things are all over my yard right now, and the most annoying things I have to deal with every weekend. I had never seen anything like them until I moved, but since I learned what they are, they come in handy in many ways.
Hedge Apples
They are yellow-green, softball-sized fruit that (I believe) you can eat and if you have a come with bugs (which every home has) these large fruit balls can come in handy.
What Can You Use Hedge Apples For
If you place these fruit balls around the foundation of your basement supposedly it can provide relief from cockroaches, spiders, boxelder bugs, crickets, and other pests. This is a folk tale, but I can tell you we have used them to help with a mole problem, which seems to have worked (a little).
There is no scientific evidence that this "folk tale" about keeping insects away works, but that doesn't stop people from trying.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these softball-sized fruit balls are edible but not commonly consumed. Most of all, these are used for decor during the fall season.
For me, it's a pain to pick these fruit balls up every weekend. I swear we have bags and bangs of these fruit balls that just make my garage heavier. So, if you don't have them in your yard be thankful, they really are a pain to deal with, and whatever you do DON'T PARK UNDERNEATH ONE.
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