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Planting Under Trees - Part 9Read the article this discussion is about
This archived discussion is "read only". « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next » » Daffyclay - Marge, No apology necessary. Just consider were my comment c Marge,No apology necessary. Just consider were my comment came from. LOL. What is a wetter agent? I've seen that use a number of times in connection with use of liquid fungicides for dipping plants. Any idea where one can be obtained? Clay Higgins, Editor: Clay's Daffodils -- posted by Daffyclay » Marge_Talt - Clay, I'm so glad you aren't offended by my brain-dead botch on Clay, I'm so glad you aren't offended by my brain-dead botch on your name! I didn't even catch it myself when I previewed my message before posting and just went merrily on my witless way:-)Well, Clay, a wetting agent is a substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid and thus increases its adhesion to a solid surface. The idea is to help the fungicide stick on the plant leaves. Wetting agents are also used in soil mixes that, for instance, have a lot of peat in them - which is notoriously hard to wet, as well as non-gardening products. I think, in some instances, you can use a few drops of liquid dish soap for this purpose, but would be careful about doing this unless I was certain the chemical reaction between the soap and whatever you want to spray won't cause any phytotoxicity. If you want to know more about wetting agents, the BASF site has a page (not gardening oriented, but still pertinant) on Wetting that probably has more than you'd ever want to know. There are commercial wetting agent products out there. I found one web site, Agro-Tech 2000, that makes one called Break Thru and has copious info about it in relation to herbicides, fungicides, etc. It appears, however, that it's for the turf industry and not sold to the general consumer. However, I happen to own a bottle of Dragon Spreader Sticker, which I think I bought at a local garden center or DIY store - I've had it for ages. It's packaged by Dragon Chemical Corp., Roanoke, VA 24019, according the label. I haven't used it much and not for a long time, but its sole purpose is to be mixed with sprays to help them stick to plant leaves. Now, aren't you sorry you asked? :-) Marge -- posted by Marge_Talt » Daffyclay - Marge, I've never had to use a wetter agent before. However, Marge,I've never had to use a wetter agent before. However, this year, my daffodil garden was attached by root lesion menatodes. To get rid of them, I had to treat the soil with BASAMID, and now that it's getting time for replanting, I'm going to treat the bulbs with Hot Water Treatment (HWT) as it's called. I need a wetter agent for the formalin mixture that I will be using in the hot water bath at 112 degree (F) for three hours. However, it's a piece of cake, as I've discovered a working laboratory grade hot water bath in my father-in-law's personal laboratory that he left us when he passed on. The old man was a MD research doctor at NIH. THe water bath ranges from 0 to 100 degrees (C). Therefore the need for the wetter agent. Thanks for the information. Clay Higgins, Editor: Clay's Daffodils -- posted by Daffyclay » Cottage_Garden - I always figured they cooked up big vats of stuff at NIH -- and I always figured they cooked up big vats of stuff at NIH -- and now I know! (grin)The fence stopped them. It justy went up a couple of weeks later than it shjould have, so am still waiting on peppers and tomatoes. (It is September!!!!) My fence is still the tried and true el cheapo model: Pound some tall metal tee stakes into the ground and string (unelectrified) electric fence wire from post to post. Three strands. My fence is only about 6 feet high but it stops them. It is also visually unobtrusive. In the woods we ran the wire from tree to tree -- it is all but invisible there. If the deer decide to jump it, we can attach a taller outrigger section to the top of the tee stakes. This method is quickly installed and easily removed and since we don't have neighbors to complain about the "look" it suits us perfectly. During the winter we also fence off a strip of shrubs running along the driveway. For that we use 4 foot barnyard wire mesh and a few tee stakes. It makes a long skinny cage about 5 feet across and umpteen long and the deer are deterred enough that they don't bother the contents. Barbara Martin -- posted by Cottage_Garden » Marge_Talt - Ah, Clay, I've heard of that HWT and just recently, from Bill Le Ah, Clay, I've heard of that HWT and just recently, from Bill Lee who is also a daffodil nut and posts on the Shadegardens List. Do you know him? He's in Ohio, I think. When he told me in private email that he was heavily into daffs, I thought of you and wondered if you had run into him...you two seem to have a lot in common. Want an intro if you don't know him? He seems to know something about this process and it might be helpful to you to compare notes...he may even know what you can best use as a wetting agent. Let me know. I owe him a reply and could include you, if you'd like:-)Soil nematodes of the nasty variety are something I have not yet (knock on wood) encountered. I understand they can be a real problem and I wish you the best with your cleaned bulbs! Your dad's bath sounds the perfect thing for the job, however. You're most welcome, glad to be of assistance. Marge -- posted by Marge_Talt » Marge_Talt - Barbara, You mean you just have 3 wire strands and they don't Barbara,You mean you just have 3 wire strands and they don't crawl under or jump over? Wow! That's heartening....something I could possibly do. Do you put any kind of flags or cloth strips or anything on the strands so they can see them or do they just pass on by? I once strung a fairly lightweight plastic mesh from tree to tree along the east side woods - where the deer come into the garden. Talk about a job! I don't know if you could tell from that brief visit, but beyond the house, our property goes downhill fairly steeply and is wild woods and it's a challenge to string anything. At any rate, before the west side neighbors cleared the woods for their lovely tennis court, the deer had a regular trail up the north side of the house to that west woods. They got through the mesh by the simple expedient of tearing it down - simply weren't to be stopped from using their trail - one so well defined you could see it on the ground. Now, they still come up that way, but not as much and only to sample the delectible stuff in my borders on the west side - drat them. I'd sure like to stop them from coming up that way. As I've mentioned before, last year I got miles of heavy mesh plastic fencing about 5' tall and more metal stakes than I can count - cleaned Home Despot right out and also Lowes :-) I put the fencing around every group of yews and azaleas I've got. Hus. said it looked like concentration camp...and it took a long time, but it worked. Of course, if I could keep them OUT in the first place it would be a whole lot better, but they also walk right down the road and up our drive :-( so OUT is really not a total option. I'll try just about anything at least once in my contining battle of the wits with Bambi! Marge
-- posted by Marge_Talt » Cottage_Garden - I take it back -- 4 strands evenly spaced on the posts, stapled I take it back -- 4 strands evenly spaced on the posts, stapled to trees in the woods. It works to direct them aside. They have not broken through it, not even the new one around their veggie patch (knock on wood) but the day that tree came down and broke an opening they were in like a flash.In some of the orchards here they have incredible fencing -- over 8 feet tall and electrified -- like a fortress. The deer will jump, will smash, and will literally belly wiggle under wimpy fencing. The deer pressure up there is so fierce they are allowed extra hunting. Barbara Martin -- posted by Cottage_Garden » dayan - This deer thing better not head my way. I am currently losing th This deer thing better not head my way. I am currently losing the battle of wits against a fruit fly infestation. I have been thinking about preventing them from adding me to a possible route-in-the-making. One of my neighbours (the house I saw the deer leaving) was speculating that the lone deer may have been a yearling buck who got the boot from his herd. You know about the drought we were having and he may have been using the birdbath as a water source. What so you all think of that theory?Back to the preparations for possible invasion, I was thinking of stringing up the deer netting on the north and south sides. I can't block off the road or the ocean though, do you think it's futile? As an aside, I had today off and was planning to garden. However, the Swiss Air flight went down about ten miles from here so there was too much excitement (on the part of the children) with the low flying helicopters. Karyn -- posted by dayan » Marge_Talt - Barbara. So, how far apart are the strands? How far is the f Barbara.So, how far apart are the strands? How far is the first one off the ground? Let's hope that the break and entry didn't give them the idea that they could also break through! Fingers crossed on the right hand only!! They sure are persistant suckers and, seems to me that the availability of "wild" food has a lot to do with just how much energy they will expend on getting into the garden. Onward and upward in outfoxing Bambi! Marge -- posted by Marge_Talt » Marge_Talt - Well, Karyn, as annoying as fruit flies are, I'll take them over Well, Karyn, as annoying as fruit flies are, I'll take them over deer any day!The yearling buck theory may be valid. Most of the time, I see them in groups of 3 or more - does with kids; and seldom singly. However, if there is one, there are likely more around. Stringing fencing along the sides of the property might help a bit, if that's the direction they are coming from...but, unless you can close off the ends, they will follow the fence line until it ends and then come around it. Before you panic, talk to your neighbors and keep a watch out at dusk and (if you're up) dawn - the times of day they are usually on the move. If you don't hear of damage in the area and you don't see any, then don't bother putting up fencing as they are likely not frequenting the neighborhood for whatever reasons. When I heard the news of the Swiss Air crash, so close to Halifax, I thought of you and wondered if it were near you. A tragic occurance, to be sure...does not make me want to go book a flight tomorrow:-) Marge
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