|
Stop That Mole
Problem:
Thank you for publishing the magazine.
My husband and I enjoy it every month.
I have a question about a pest. We had
just planted our fall garden when a mole
moved in. We live in the Gulf Coast area
of Texas and have sandy soil in the
garden area. It uprooted one of the
pepper plants and killed a tomato plant,
and now I am worried it will eat the
asparagus that we had just begun to get
production from.
How can we
relocate or rid ourselves of this pest?
Ann Schoenewolf
Bay City
Solution: The best way to get rid
of moles is with a mechanical trap
placed along one of their underground
tunnels. The next time the mole passes
through the tunnel it will be
eliminated. Mole traps are available at
most hardware stores and can also be
found online.
Apple of My Eye
Problem: I
have a question that I hope you can
answer. I want to use horse apples for
decorations. How long will they stay
hard and green after they fall off the
tree? Also, do I need to wash them and
will they pose any danger to anyone? I
saw horse apples used as a decoration
two weeks ago and they were gorgeous
grouped on the table. Thank you and I
read your magazine from cover to cover
when it comes in the mail. Keep up the
good work.
Irene Peterson
Email
Solution:
While we have no experience decorating
with the fruit of the bois d’Arc tree (Maclura
pomifera), commonly called horse
apple, we have noticed that they seem to
have a long shelf life on the ground
after they fall from the tree.
If
they are dirty, wash them. Otherwise, we
would say go ahead and use them in your
decorations. Just use common sense and
remove them if they start to rot and
make sure children don’t have access to
them because they are inedible.
By the way, this tree is not native to
Texas and we don’t recommend planting
it. Interestingly, the wood of the bois
d’arc tree is commonly used for fence
posts in Kansas and Missouri.
Source for Elbon Rye
Problem: I
have been trying to find elbon rye to
plant a cover crop this fall, but no one
seems to carry it. I have checked at
seed stores and garden nurseries far and
wide, and cannot find any. The stores
have rymin rye. Is this okay? If this is
okay, do you cut it down in the spring
and then till under like elbon rye?
Rosalyn Gohl
Killeen
Solution:
Elbon Rye is the one you should be
looking for and it should be easy to
find. It was developed by the Noble
Foundation in Oklahoma and makes an
excellent cover crop that is useful in
reducing nematode infestations. You mow
it down and till it into the soil in
spring.
Any nursery or garden
center that is serviced by BWI can get
some for you. Check with Oma’s in
Killeen (254) 526-8792.
|
