THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412230105
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
MANY WORKING FOLKS take this week off. If you're one of them, it might be a good time to run off the moles. A new product called Mole-Med comes highly recommended by Michigan State University. In 26 of 27 tests, the repellent stopped lawn damage by moles.
Surprisingly, the active ingredient is castor oil. Mole-Med puts castor oil in the soil where moles tunnel and feed. The university says it doesn't know if it's ``the odor of the stuff or the bad taste it gives grubs and other soil invertebrates that moles feed on or something else about it that repels the animals.''
They say moles move from treated to untreated areas after one or two applications. Mole-Med can be applied any time the ground is not frozen, says Glen Dudderar, wildlife specialist at Michigan State. In tests it has also repelled rabbits, squirrels and raccoons. What a product!
It currently is available in this area only at Abner's Ace Hardware on First Colonial Road in Oceana, Virginia Beach. An 8-ounce bottle treats 2,500 square feet for $10.95. A quart treats 5,000 square feet for $17.95 and a 2-quart bottle costs $29.95 for 10,000 square feet. You spray it on with a hose-end sprayer. Two applications per year are recommended. WATER WELL DURING HOLIDAYS
As the family gathers at home today, don't forget that heat from a fireplace or oven dries out Christmas plants. Poinsettias and chrysanthemums need water almost every other day.
Other houseplants get dusty and dry during the holidays so put them in a bathtub this week and give them a shower. If you suspect insects, use some liquid soap. HOT SURPRISE FOR SQUIRRELS
Give the birds a break by using Scripton in your bird feeders to keep the squirrels away. I've used it for a few weeks, and squirrels no longer bother feeders at our house. They soon learn that the hot pepper in Scripton burns their noses - but birds love it. It's a natural product from the Amazon forests and can be found in most stores that sell bird supplies. PLANT A NATIVE STEWARTIA
Those dedicated Virginia Beach women who plant and care for the native plant garden at the Virginia Marine Science Museum report they've just planted three native Stewartia trees.
The native Stewartia, also known as pseudo-camellia, is available from Woodlanders for $16 each plus shipping. For a Woodlanders catalog, mail $3 to 1128 Colleton Ave., Aiken, S.C. 29801. Call (803) 648-7522. RABBITS TURN UP NOSES AT MARIGOLDS
Rosa Smith of Edenton, N.C., writes: ``You had a request for plants that rabbits do not like. Marigolds seem to work for me. My garden is between wooded areas. I have a variegated marigold that comes up every year and have a border of them around my garden plus a few mixed in with roses. My neighbors laugh, but while rabbits eat their green beans, I have never had a problem. Except for cabbage worms, my garden is free of pests.''
Certain varieties of marigolds are known to repel many insects as well as nematodes. They are an annual flower, but if grown on a good seedbed, they will often seed themselves and come back year after year. You may want to see if your rabbits are repelled by marigolds by planting some next spring. You can talk to Rosa Smith at (919) 221-8223. LEYLAND CYPRESS UNPOPULAR IN ENGLAND
Many of us admire British gardens and gardeners, although their views and ours often differ. Charles Elliott, a senior editor for Alfred A. Knopf in London, writes in the December issue of Horticulture magazine: ``The Guardian (a London newspaper) has been running a series of articles on the best and worst. On the worst botanical creation, they say rude things about a tulip called `Ringo,' a double sunflower (Helianthus `Orange Sun') which is like `a grotesque stunted apricot floor mop' and Rudbeckia occidentalis `Green Wizard,' which actually has no petals at all and apparently lasts forever in that desperate condition. The Guardian came down hard on what is widely regarded as the leading horticultural horror of this century. It is the Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) whose principal talent seems to be an ability to grow fast. Unattractive as a specimen tree, it droops as if perpetually drenched by Manchester rain. Fifty years hence, when all the millions recently planted are full-grown, Britain will be unrecognizable.''
Leyland cypress is widely planted in this country as a fast-growing and attractive hedge. It is a haven for bagworms, but most Americans give it a better rating than do the Brits. GET THE GARDENING SCOOP ON VIDEO
``Wise People - Wise Gardens'' is the name of a video series from Arthur Mokin. Starting with ``Ruth Stout's Garden,'' he's assembled a group of gardening videos, many on organic gardening. Cost for most is around $25. For a descriptive folder, call (800) 238-4668 or fax (707) 542-6182. A SHOW OF COLOR
If your trees showed fall color early this autumn, it means the tree was under stress from too much or not enough water, infertile or compacted soil, disease, construction damage to the roots or some other cause. Now is a good time to search for the problem and correct it. A NATURALLY PRETTY EARRING
Need a natural New Year's gift? Here's a note from Esty Vollrath (the banana lady): ``This year we had such a bumper crop of persimmons that I was forced into making lots of jam, bread and pudding. While washing the fruit, I noticed how attractive the little caps on the persimmons were, so I saved them and later experimented with making them into earrings. They are the shape of small dogwood blossoms. I sprayed some gold, some silver but left some their natural color, which looks like wood with little peach-colored pansy faces. Two shops - the tennis pro shop at the Little Creek amphib base and Peter Kwick - are now selling them. I am selling them direct for $3 per pair. They would make good New Year's presents.'' Call 486-3217 or 340-4876. PLAN FOR GARDEN SHOW
Mark your calendar for the Virginia Flower & Garden Show, to be held at the Virginia Beach Pavilion on Jan. 21 and 22. Landscape displays by plant societies include stone, illustrating the theme ``Down The Garden Path.'' Spring flowers will be blooming, vendors will be selling garden items and experienced gardeners will talk about plant culture. Cost is $5 by CNB