On 5/10/2008 2:05 AM, 'Mike' wrote:
"David E. Ross" wrote in message
. ..
On 5/8/2008 9:27 AM, ROSEMARIE wrote:
I have a problem with snails and I was told broken egg shells. Also that
there is a wire I can use
ROSEMARIE
I bought a small spool of thin copper wire. I wrap this three times
around certain flower pots that have plants that attract snails. I also
wrapped it around the trunk of a tangelo (citrus that is a cross between
pomelo and tangerine) in a way that allows the trunk to grow and expand
without the wire cutting into the bark.
Like in http://www.myalbum.com/Album=P8UNJE4H ?
Mike
That's nasty!
The trunk of my tangelo is less than 2 inches in diameter. I took a
length of wire and folded it in half and then folded it in half again.
Leaving a loop at the second fold, I twisted the wire to make a shorter
four-strand length (about 1 ft). Starting at the top of a section of
trunk, I wrapped the wire once around the trunk and ran it through the
loop at the second fold and then continued wrapping the wire snugly
around the trunk in a downward spiral, leaving the bottom end free just
above the soil. The copper retains that spiral even though it is not
fastened at the bottom.
I check the wire whenever I feed the tangelo, about every three weeks.
If it does not slide easily (especially at the top where it is threaded
through the loop), I loosen it. I made the spiral long enough that I
can indeed increase the diameter without having to add more wire. The
tree is a dwarf, and I don't expect it will ever outgrow the existing
wire.
I've read that citrus orchards use strips of copper sheeting around the
trees. A strip is fastened to the trunk at one end and then wrapped
1-1/2 or twice around the trunk, again leaving the end free for the tree
to grow. Alternatively, thin copper foil can be fastened at both ends;
it will tear if the trunk grows too large and not girdle the trunk.
Then, the foil must be replaced.
Locally, the citrus orchards in Ventura County (where I live) are using
the decollate snails quite successfully and have ceased using poison
bait or copper barriers. Lemons are a major crop here, with much of the
crop being exported to Asia. Oranges, avocados, and other crops (tree,
vine, and annual) also use the decollate snails.
I have to re-establish the decollate population in my back yard. They
were severely impacted by the lack of moisture and the movement of
grading equipment when my hill was repaired last summer. I saw a brown
snail just this morning.
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/