Gardening: The Secret Relationship Between Mothballs and Your Peach Tree

Often the best secrets and tips for the domestic arts are found in that endearing, but under-utilized population of octogenarians.  This gardening tip came from a cute, older woman who used to run a large orchard. 
Gardeners have long hung mothballs in nylon stockings from trees to detract scavenging animals and pests.  However, this is a new application of that antiquated item in your grocery store's laundry aisle.  In order to rid your peach tree of borers (to which almost all peach trees succumb), try this when the weather starts getting cool.  Dig a 6 inch trench circling the base of your tree.  Fill this trench with mothballs (I used moth crystals) add water, and replace the dirt.  According to my seasoned, orchard-owning source, it works like a charm to rid your tree of borers, or prevent them from invading your tree in the first place. 
Whether or not my tree is past saving (it's fairly severely afflicted), it was still fun to step back in time and apply the wisdom of a spunky, garden sage.