Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507100113
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: John K. Arbogast
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Hang small, red balls coated with something sticky in apple, pear and plum trees to trap apple maggots.
There are many prescriptions to keep deer from nibbling your desirable plants. Try hanging human hair or strong-smelling soap pieces in mesh bags from limbs or stakes placed among the target plants. Some gardeners believe deer become accustomed to a scent after a while, so rotate the choices. Some home gardeners have tried sprays made from hot peppers or eggs as a deer deterrent.
An interesting way to keep raccoons out of fruit trees is to put a 30-inch length of old stovepipe around the base of each tree. Move the pipe pieces from tree to tree as the fruit ripens. Pipe sections can also be put around low branches to prevent raccoons from getting into the tree that way.
Protect the trunks of young trees from rodents, string trimmers and lawn mowers with 10-inch tall guards cut from cardboard tubes or plastic jugs. Guards can also be made from metal hardware cloth or old screening. Discourage rodents from tunneling by burying the bottom edge.
During the recent wet weather, some folks probably had luck attracting slugs to traps of shallow pans sunk to ground level and filled with stale beer.
New telephone policy
Virginia Cooperative Extension has experienced several rounds of budget cuts, hiring freezes, etc., as have other state agencies. Recently, 58 extension agents and support staff took the early buyout offered to state employees.
These developments have left local extension offices with vacancies that cannot be filled for at least one year. These vacancies have created gaps in services in all program areas.
Because of loss of staff in surrounding areas, the Roanoke City and Roanoke County extension offices are receiving horticulture calls from many parts of Southwest and Central Virginia. Telephone bills are paid from local funds. In order to serve our clients and stay within our budget, we can no longer return long-distance telephone calls that relate to consumer horticulture. Also, we may ask clients to leave their phone number or call back rather than tying up all phone lines with people on hold. Virginia Cooperative Extension is working to continue quality service within the constraints of shrinking budgets and staff. Thank you for your continued support.
Q: Until five years ago, we had never seen an earwig. Each year now, however, the earwig population seems to multiply. They have invaded and occupied the area surrounding the foundation of our home. Where did these beasts come from? What do they want? What should we do? My husband is planning a counterattack with chlordane, the outlawed pesticide. Is chlordane really so dangerous? Mrs. E. T., Christiansburg
A: Earwigs are attracted to damp and dark places. Their presence usually indicates moist hiding spots nearby. The wet weather our area has experienced has been great for earwigs. Their wants would be food, which can be a variety of organic matter or other insects, and/or a mate. Don't let your husband use Chlordane to combat these insects, since they are susceptible to common household or landscape and garden insecticides. The non-chemical part of earwig control would be to eliminate those damp breeding and hiding places that these critters like around your home.
Chlordane can be considered a dangerous chemical because of its very long chemical life of more than 20 years. Potential health risks were associated with its use a few years ago when it was available for termite control, but was improperly applied and contaminated the air that humans were breathing.
For more specifics, call the Blue Ridge Poison Center located at the University of Virginia, (800) 451-1428.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. We need your mail, but this column can't reply to all letters. Those of wide appeal will be answered each week. Personal replies cannot be given. Please don't send stamps, stamped envelopes, samples, or pictures.
by CNB