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By Robert Burns
Texas AgriLife Extension Service

A new greenhouse largely funded by the Texas nursery plant industry will research ways to reduce chemical use and increase biological control of insect and other pests, said Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts.

The greenhouse, which was built on the grounds of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, was dedicated to industry leaders in a brief ceremony July 10. Attendees included commercial nursery owners and their families, and faculty from AgriLife Extension and Texas AgriLife Research.

"The greenhouse will be used to conduct research on integrated pest management techniques to support the East Texas bedding plant and nursery industry," said Dr. Scott Ludwig, AgriLife Extension entomologist and integrated pest management specialist based at Overton.

Integrated pest management, commonly known as "IPM," strives to use less chemical pesticides by correct timing of applications, pest identification and biological controls.

In Smith, Cherokee, Henderson and Van Zandt counties, the industry has wholesale gate receipts of $300 million, with a proportionally larger total economic impact on the region, Ludwig said.

As the Northeast Texas Greenhouse and Nursery Growers have members as far west as Dallas who will benefit from the work done at the greenhouse, the economic impact is even larger, said Dr. Roland Smith, associate director of AgriLife Extension.

The greenhouse and nursery industry is big business in Texas agriculture, ranking third in terms of cash receipts behind only beef cattle and cotton, Smith said.

"In 2007, the Northeast Texas Greenhouse and Nursery Growers were responsible for about three quarters of a billion dollars of cash receipts for their industry," Smith said. "This amounts to about 40 percent of the state’s total of greenhouse and nursery output."

The greenhouse was funded by the Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association Memorial fund, which members started to honor association members who have passed away, said James Wilhite, owner of Wilhite Landscaping and Lawn Care, Tyler.

"Each time there is a benefit from this experimental greenhouse, we’ll remember the friends that have passed on before us that have made the nursery and landscape industry such a pleasurable place to work," Wilhite said.

One of those remembered will be Floyd Trammel, owner of Tram Tex Nursery Incorporated in Tyler. Trammel, who was one of the founding members of the Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association, died in November 2007.

"We’ve lost several of our fellow nurserymen last year, along with my father," said Cyndi Trammel, who now manages Tram Tex.

"Our nursery is doing very well and being very successful because we have places like this that will do the testing for us," Trammel said. "As you can imagine running a full-time growing operation, it would be very difficult for us to set up a lab like this and be able to run the tests and do them effectively."

Trammel said she favors using environmental pest controls whenever possible because they're safer for workers to use.

Ludwig said the research will benefit growers statewide. "As the public demand for organic and sustainable-produced plants increase, it is important that growers have the know-how to meet the needs of the market," Ludwig said. "This facility will enable AgriLife Extension to conduct research that will aid growers to produce healthier plants for landscapes and homes."

By Fran Prisco
Bird-B-Gone, Inc.

Woodpeckers are costing homeowners thousands of dollars every year due to the damage they cause. They will hammer on the sides of our houses and other buildings to attract mates, establish or defend a territory, excavate a nesting or roosting site, and to search for insects. Drumming sites can include wooden shingles, cedar siding, metal or plastic gutters, antennas and light posts. Woodpeckers love the loud sounds they produce. They frequently damage cedar, rough pine redwood siding and some synthetic stucco finishes; causing thousands of dollars in damage each year.

Woodpeckers drill holes for a variety of reasons. One of the most obvious is to excavate a cavity for nesting or roosting and another is to search for food. In the spring, woodpeckers also use a rhythmic pecking called "drumming" to establish a territory and attract a mate. Complaints of woodpeckers on houses during this period indicate that the birds are using the house as a "singing" post. Woodpecker damage typically consists of holes drilled into wood siding or trees. A woodpecker will select a tree or home for no particular reason. They will usually choose a few favorite areas and attack them repeatedly over the course of a mating season. It seems they prefer softer woods like cedar and redwood siding.

Woodpeckers are migratory birds and are thus protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treat Act. This makes it difficult to get rid of the birds and keep them from damaging our homes. We must use a humane, non-lethal form of woodpecker control. There are several non-lethal techniques that can be used to control pest woodpeckers, including visual repellents, loud noises, and exclusion. It is very important to take immediate action to reduce the damage, as woodpeckers are not easily driven from their territories or pecking sites once they have become established. There is no "standard" approach to dealing with woodpecker damage. Evaluate each individual situation separately to determine the most effective control measures. Often more than one technique (for example, using both visual and sound repellents) may provide the best control.

Use the following steps to determine what control measures to use

• Check for insects. If they are present, ask your local Exterminator for assistance.

• Can the bird be prevented from getting to or using the problem area?

• Can the bird be repelled with visual, sound or chemical repellents?

• As a last resort, can the offending birds be removed safely?

Methods of Deterring Woodpeckers

Exclusion. Netting is one of the most effective methods of excluding woodpeckers from damaging wood siding beneath the eaves. Place lightweight plastic bird-type netting over the area. A mesh of 3/4 inch is generally recommended. At least 3 inches of space should be left between the netting and the damaged building so that birds cannot cause damage through the mesh. The netting can also be attached to the overhanging eaves and angled back to the siding below the damaged area and secured taut but not overly tight. Be sure to secure the netting so that the birds have no way to get behind it. If installed properly, the netting is barely visible from a distance and will offer a long-term solution to the damage problem. If the birds move to another area of the dwelling, that too will need to be netted. Netting is increasingly popular as a solution to woodpecker problems because it consistently gives desired results. Once the birds have moved to another area, the netting can be taken down.

Visual Repellents. The best way to keep pesky little woodpeckers from destroying valuable trees and wood sidings is to discourage them from pecking using a visual repellent. You can use Mylar FlashTape, BirdBGone Scare Balloons, or Bird Diverters. These devises cause a visual distraction that bother the birds and they will move on to an area that is more "pleasant" to them.

Noise Repellents. Using loud noises like rock music or bird distress calls are also an effective way to discourage the birds. Remember to use these techniques as soon as damage begins and continue them for at least eight days. Understand that when the birds leave one site they simply move to another one. Just hope that the new site is on something other than the house.

Homeowners spend thousands of dollars replacing the siding on their homes as well as patching up the holes and damage done by woodpeckers. In most cases you can get control quickly and effectively if you use an integrated approach: put up visual repellents, use a chemical repellent and harass the birds with noise.

The compost heap
Mosquitoes, birds and grapefruit

"I read your article on repelling/getting rid of mosquitoes (SEEDS, July 9, 2008)," writes Judy Johnson, "and you're right-on about getting rid of standing water. It also helps to sprinkle granulated garlic on the ground to ward them off. Not only does it prevent mosquitoes, but it also helps the ground and plants as well. Of course, you get a yard that smells like a pizzeria for a short while. I also feed the birds who like eating mosquitoes!"

"I thought while reading your 'Seven tips for bird feeding on a budget' (SEEDS, June 25, 2008) that the bird water tip could be greatly improved by adding some brief info on harvesting rainwater," writes Mike Mecke, a retired water specialist. "It not only is great for our garden and flowers, but for our birds and other critters — including the pets! Check out this Web site for a free download of an Extension publication 'Harvesting Rainwater for Wildlife': http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/."

"We have a small potted grapefruit tree, approx. 2 ft. tall," writes Dianna Peterson. "It has been raised from seed given to us from a tree in Arizona. We are wondering if we can leave it outside during the winter months. Also wondering how to prune it as some limbs are getting pretty long. Any advice would be greatly appreciated."

First of all, grapefruit and just about any other citrus plant will not survive a winter in North Texas without some protection from freezing weather. You should bring the plant in to your garage or greenhouse whenever temperatures are expected to fall below freezing. Since your plant was grown from a seedling it is unlikely that it or its fruit will resemble the tree in Arizona. Since you are growing the plant in a container you should prune it to control its size but wait to do so until after the fruit has been harvested if possible. If the plant does not currently have fruit on it then you could go ahead and prune those leggy branches now if they are in the way.

"When you find caterpillars (cats) on your plants, make sure you know what kind of cats they are," writes Linda T. Collins. "Many plants are host plants for cats that become some of our beautiful butterflies. Here are just a few butterfly cats and their host plants: Eastern Black Swallowtails feed on fennel, parsley, dill, carrot, parsnip, and rue. Gulf Fritillaries and Zebra Longwings feed on passion vine. Monarchs feed on butterfly milkweed and fennel. Queens feed on milkweed too. Giant Swallowtails prefer citrus and rue. Painted Lady cats love borage (cool weather herb only) and members of the thistle family and sunflower family. Many of the sulfurs like clover. So look before you kill!"

Have a favorite gardening tip you'd like to share? Texas Gardener's Seeds is seeking brief gardening tips from Texas gardeners to use in future issues. If we publish your tip in Seeds, we will send you a free Texas Gardener T-shirt. Here's a chance to get published and be a garden stylist as well! Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at: Gardening Tips.

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Texas Gardener's Seeds is published weekly. © Suntex Communications, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. You may forward this publication to your friends and colleagues if it is sent in its entirety. No individual part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher.

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Publisher: Chris S. Corby ● Editor: Michael Bracken

Texas Gardener's Seeds, P.O. Box 9005, Waco, Texas 76714 ● www.TexasGardener.com