Gardening with Gary
Gardening Advice from an Expert
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are the bane of summer and keep us out of our wonderful gardens and
sitting areas. Citronella candles, mosquito plants (Lemon Pelargoniums), and smoke
coils all have limited effectiveness at repelling the adult insects. Take steps
to control them in your yard by eliminating their breeding sites. Standing water
in pots, saucers, candleholders, buckets, watering cans, etc., must be emptied daily.
Tall grass and overgrown weedy areas should be mown, and low areas where water stands should be leveled. ~ from: Emazing.com
Any areas of standing water (ravines, gullies, ponds, buckets, plastic sheeting,
pet dishes) must either be eliminated or treated with a product containing Bt, a
bacterial toxin that prevents the larvae from becoming adults. Bt comes in the form
of grainy cakes which are safe to birds, fish, and pets. Bird baths, fountains,
ponds, planters, or anything that holds water should receive a Bt treatment.
Q. We have such a summer problem with Mosquitos. Do you have any recommendations in addition to that citronella?
A. With the West Nile Virus spreading the globe, precautions against mosquitos
are very important. Think about where they breed and eliminate those spots. Here
are a few ideas:
Keep grass and bushes trimmed. Dispose of containers such as tin or plastic
containers, tires, bottles, cups, anything that may hold water. Make sure roof gutters
drain properly. Clean them of leaf and stem blockage in the spring and fall
and as needed. Do not allow standing water on flat roofs. Clean and
chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. If not in use, drain
water completely and cover tightly. Keep water off pool covers. Change water in
birdbaths every three days. Clean them with detergent every two weeks.
Do not let standing water remain around flower and vegetable pots. Repair
leaky outdoor pipes and faucets. Fill or cover gaps in the yard such as around
flagpoles, bird feeders or pipes. Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows
when not in use. Use covers or tarps if possible, but do not allow water to settle
on top. Fill in low lying lawn areas. Consider rooting cuttings in sand instead
of bottles of water.
Inside, change water in vases holding flowers or cuttings twice a week. Clean
vases with bleach water. Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens.
Repair or replace all screens which have tears or holes.
Assistance from Backyard Greenhouses
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