Controlling Mosquitoes without Chemicals

Last week I discussed having a pond without mosquitoes but there are plenty of places where mosquitoes can breed.

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 Anywhere there is standing water, there may be mosquito larva.

 Look around your yard.  Typical places are your birdbath, dishes under plants, low-lying areas in the yard, old tires or literally anything that holds water.

 Clear out the standing water at least every two days.  That is the lifespan of the larva.  Leave it any longer and they will hatch and be patrolling your yard for a tasty meal.

 I use the “tap” method when looking for larva.  Just tap on the container or in the water and look for movement.  Just dump them out and you’ll have a much nicer and safer yard.

A Pond without Mosquitoes

There’s nothing like having a pond in your yard.  It’s a thing of beauty and peace.  Add a waterfall or bubbler and it’s even better with the relaxing sounds of running water.

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 However there’s one big problem that comes with standing water – it’s a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.

 Mosquitoes are listed as the living being that kills more humans than anything else in the world.  Of course, it’s not direct but rather the fact that they carry and transmit so many diseases.

 There are some things you can do to help prevent mosquitoes.

 Since they need quiet, still water, adding a means of keeping the water moving will make your pond far less desirable.  It will also maintain a higher level of oxygen if you have fish.

 Speaking of fish, many species of fish love mosquito larva.  That includes goldfish, koi, and some minnows including the Mosquito Fish.  The Mosquito Fish gets its name from its voracious appetite for larva. Unfortunately, it will also eat the larva of beneficial insects like dragon flies.

 Finally, there is a product called BTI which contains a bacteria that kills the larva without harming other creatures, plants, pets or humans.

 When you design your pond, keep this in mind.

 

Blueberries

Who doesn’t love blueberries?  They’re healthy and so delicious in desserts, on your cereal, with chicken or just by themselves.

Have you ever thought of growing them yourself?

Blueberries grow on bushes that are native to North America. Depending on the variety, they can grow up to 6’ tall.

In summer, the leaves have a leathery appearance and they turn bright red in the fall.  The berries grow in clusters so you don’t need many bushes to get a lot of berries.  Cultivated blueberries are larger but less sweet than their wild cousins.

The bushes need to be about 5 years old before producing a significant number of berries.

They need full sun, very acidic soil and plenty of water to thrive.  Annual pruning keeps them strong enough to product about 8 quarts of berries per bush.

You may have issues with insect pests and diseases but the biggest problem will be protecting the berries from birds and other wildlife. 

Remember that if you go out in the fall to pick wild blueberries, be very careful that you don’t cross paths with any bears.  They love blueberries!

Tea Plant

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Camellia sinensis is the plant most commonly grown to make the black tea you find in your grocery store tea bags.

This is a plant grown as often for landscaping as for making tea. 

The leaves are glossy and the foliage is thick.  This small tree can be delicate.  It needs protection for winds and strong sunshine.  It is hardy to USDA zone 7 so it can’t be planted outdoors in north-western NJ.  It can be grown in a pot in those areas and brought indoors in the winter.

It will have a show of fragrant flowers in the summer.

Morning sun and medium humidity with just the right amount of water will keep your plant healthy.  They are fussy so you will have to spend more time caring for this plant than many others.  Just a light fertilizer and you’re all set.

Once the tree has enough leaves where it can spare some for a harvest, pick a couple of leaves from each branch and dry them in a low temperature oven.  Store them for your next tea party.

Garlic

April 19th is National Garlic Day.  Garlic has become such a popular food that it has had its own holiday for many years.

Garlic has natural antibiotic properties and is considered a very healthy food.

Greeks and Egyptians considered it to be healthy and valuable.  It is also said to ward off vampires.

There are now many garlic festivals throughout the U.S. The most famous Garlic Festival has been held annually in Gilroy, California since 1979.  There are several in this general areal including Sussex county fairgrounds (2nd Saturday in October), Poconos (Labor Day weekend) and Easton, PA (2ndnd Saturday in October).

There are an amazing number of varieties of garlic.  Each has a unique undertone to garlic’s traditional bite.

It’s also fairly easy to grow.  Just save some large cloves from a head of your favorite variety and plant them about an inch underground just before a hard frost in the fall. 

Garlic needs rich soils and loose soil so there’s plenty of room to expand.

There are two types – hard-neck and soft-neck.  You can tell which is which by whether or not there’s a thick rigid “stick” in the center of the garlic head.  Stiff neck garlic doesn’t last as long in storage but has a stronger flavor.  It also does better in colder climates.

This is one plant that’s definitely worth the hype.

Bearberry

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In honor of National Unicorn Day today (Yes – it’s actually a holiday!) we are looking at one of their favorite foods.

The Bearberry is an evergreen bush that grows as a ground cover.  It has neat little roundish leaves and produces bright red berries.  It’s a member of the heath family and is native to the far north in USDA Zone 2.  It is known by a whole list of common names, but also by the Latin name Uva Ursi.

This shrub is drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant. The bark is red and the foliage turns bronze in the fall and the bright red berries will stay on the bush all winter – or until they are eaten by bears, other wildlife - or unicorns.

It is only about 1 foot tall but can cover up to 15’ of ground once established. You can put in rocky soil or just about any conditions. 

If you have a large area of ground to cover, consider the Bearberry.

 

Tulips

Are your tulips in bloom yet?

These gorgeous spring blooms originated as wild plants in the mountainous regions of Asia centuries ago.  Once they became popular, they were the symbol of the Ottoman Empire

 They were made popular in more modern times from their frequent depiction in Dutch paintings.

Since then, we associate them with the Netherlands.  With the perfect climate, the Netherlands have become the primary supplier of tulips throughout the world.

There are many types of tulips grown today from the traditional and frilly Parrot varieties to the star-shaped tulips that you’d believe were some other kind of flower.  They come in just about any color you can think of.  Traditionally we expect to see reds, oranges, yellows and pinks but there are also blue, black and green varieties as well as stripes and streaks.

They add a great bit of color early in the spring before most annuals and shrubs produce color.

You do need to protect them from the wildlife.  Tulips are a favorite of deer, and squirrels and other rodents will dig up and eat the bulbs.

Peanuts

March is National Peanut Month!

Did you know that peanuts are legumes?  They are in the same family as beans and peas

But peanuts are unique in that their fruit grows underground.  And yes, they are considered a fruit.

Peanuts are fairly easy to grow.  Like all plants that produce their edibles underground, they need room to expand.  That means loose soil with extra room. 

They can be grown in the north if you select a variety that has a shorter growing season or if you start them indoors.

They need plenty of organic matter in the soil along with weekly watering and full sun.

Legumes are nitrogen-affixing and so will not need to be fertilized.

As the plants grow, mound up some straw, light mulch or soil around the plants as you would for potatoes.  This increases the underground growing area.

When the leaves start to turn yellow, your peanuts should be ready to harvest.  Pull the plants up and brush the dirt off of the peanuts.  Let them dry and then enjoy them raw, boiled or roasted.

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