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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
On 5/4/04 2:55 PM, in article , "Franz
Heymann" wrote: "Paul Anderson" wrote in message ... "flower faerie" wrote in message ... Hello I have lots of ant hills appearing all over my lawn. I prefer not to mow the lawn too short but want to try and get the ants to live somewhere else like in the flower borders. Also I dont want to put down ant powder. any ideas? ff We have found that Talcum Powder does the trick. It's not totally chemical free but I guess it's much less damaging than other powders suggested here! Talcum powder, like any solid, liquid or gas is a chemical. What on earth is all this paranoia about "chemicals"? As far as I know, talcum is just finely divided Mg3 (OH)2 Si4 O10. The other powders which have been suggested here were Vim and Ajax. I may be wrong, but I think both of them are just powdered chalk. Franz Hi Franz I think the resistance to 'chemicals' is the side affects of using certain chemicals. Chemicals that kill aphids, for example, also kill the predatory insects such as lady bugs and the worms in the ground. It is this kind of 'chemical' that we do not want to use because of those harmful side affects. I don't think that talcum powder falls into the 'bad chemical' category. Talcum, then, is not the kind of chemical that we are trying to avoid. Gary Fort Langley, BC Canada |
#2
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
"gary davis" wrote in message
... On 5/4/04 2:55 PM, in article , "Franz Heymann" wrote: "Paul Anderson" wrote in message ... "flower faerie" wrote in message ... Hello I have lots of ant hills appearing all over my lawn. I prefer not to mow the lawn too short but want to try and get the ants to live somewhere else like in the flower borders. Also I dont want to put down ant powder. any ideas? ff We have found that Talcum Powder does the trick. It's not totally chemical free but I guess it's much less damaging than other powders suggested here! Talcum powder, like any solid, liquid or gas is a chemical. What on earth is all this paranoia about "chemicals"? As far as I know, talcum is just finely divided Mg3 (OH)2 Si4 O10. The other powders which have been suggested here were Vim and Ajax. I may be wrong, but I think both of them are just powdered chalk. Franz Hi Franz I think the resistance to 'chemicals' is the side affects of using certain chemicals. Chemicals that kill aphids, for example, also kill the predatory insects such as lady bugs and the worms in the ground. It is this kind of 'chemical' that we do not want to use because of those harmful side affects. I don't think that talcum powder falls into the 'bad chemical' category. Talcum, then, is not the kind of chemical that we are trying to avoid. Gary Fort Langley, BC Canada God bless our North American cousins. Totally oblivious to irony. "Chemical" is a word we should try to avoid. -- Nick Wagg |
#3
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
The message
from "Nick Wagg" contains these words: God bless our North American cousins. Totally oblivious to irony. "Chemical" is a word we should try to avoid. Careful..there's sure to be chemicals in irony. Janet |
#4
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
"gary davis" wrote in message ... On 5/4/04 2:55 PM, in article , "Franz Heymann" wrote: "Paul Anderson" wrote in message ... "flower faerie" wrote in message ... Hello I have lots of ant hills appearing all over my lawn. I prefer not to mow the lawn too short but want to try and get the ants to live somewhere else like in the flower borders. Also I dont want to put down ant powder. any ideas? ff We have found that Talcum Powder does the trick. It's not totally chemical free but I guess it's much less damaging than other powders suggested here! Talcum powder, like any solid, liquid or gas is a chemical. What on earth is all this paranoia about "chemicals"? As far as I know, talcum is just finely divided Mg3 (OH)2 Si4 O10. The other powders which have been suggested here were Vim and Ajax. I may be wrong, but I think both of them are just powdered chalk. Franz Hi Franz I think the resistance to 'chemicals' is the side affects of using certain chemicals. Chemicals that kill aphids, for example, also kill the predatory insects such as lady bugs and the worms in the ground. It is this kind of 'chemical' that we do not want to use because of those harmful side affects. I don't think that talcum powder falls into the 'bad chemical' category. Talcum, then, is not the kind of chemical that we are trying to avoid. Hello Gary, I realise what is behind the paranoia. What I don't like is the way folk are overreacting to the use of chemicals in the garden. I grant you that there are chemicals whose overall benefit is dubious, but it is quite unnecessary to lump everything except manure and compost together as "chemicals" and therefore to be avoided. By the way, if you used "organic" means other than the highly ineffectual ladybirds to control aphids, you are also killing off your ladybirds. They will simply die of hunger if there are no insects around for them. I actually have my doubts about the efficacy of ladybirds for controlling aphids. I have noticed that the years in which I have large populations of ladybirds coincide with years in which I have serious infestations of aphids. Clearly the ladybirds are having a whale of a time. But unfortunately those are also the years in which there is most aphid damage in my garden, so when all is said and done, the ladybirds were fighting a losing battle. Have you ever stoped to think how many ladybirds you would need in one garden to consume a horde of a few million aphids before they breed? Franz |
#5
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: By the way, if you used "organic" means other than the highly ineffectual ladybirds to control aphids, you are also killing off your ladybirds. They will simply die of hunger if there are no insects around for them. Is there research that shows they don't simply fly away to find aphids elsewhere? Janet. |
#6
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
"Janet Baraclough.." wrote in message ... The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: By the way, if you used "organic" means other than the highly ineffectual ladybirds to control aphids, you are also killing off your ladybirds. They will simply die of hunger if there are no insects around for them. Is there research that shows they don't simply fly away to find aphids elsewhere? Janet. Last year I had hundreds of ladybirds living on a patch of Euphorbias. A month later they had all flown away and the neighbouring plum tree was swarming with aphids - so a fat load of good they were. I've used no insecticides in the garden in the 3 years I've been here, and the fruit trees are being eaten alive! In the past two years, all the leaves had been sucked dry and had fallen off well before autumn. The "natural balance" obviously doesn't occur at a point compatitble with what I want from the garden, so I'm beginning to think that spraying may be required to give my trees a chance! Bob |
#7
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
I've used no insecticides in the garden in the 3 years I've been here, and the fruit trees are being eaten alive! In the past two years, all the leaves had been sucked dry and had fallen off well before autumn. The "natural balance" obviously doesn't occur at a point compatitble with what I want from the garden, so I'm beginning to think that spraying may be required to give my trees a chance! Bob I've been busily making my first batch of nettle manure as per the instructions on the website. It claims there that this can act to deter pests. Is this actually true? Has anyone succesfully used it like this? My sweetpeas are already covered in aphids and I only put them out at the weekend. Vicky |
#8
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
"Bob" wrote in message ... "Janet Baraclough.." wrote in message ... The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: By the way, if you used "organic" means other than the highly ineffectual ladybirds to control aphids, you are also killing off your ladybirds. They will simply die of hunger if there are no insects around for them. Is there research that shows they don't simply fly away to find aphids elsewhere? Janet. Last year I had hundreds of ladybirds living on a patch of Euphorbias. A month later they had all flown away and the neighbouring plum tree was swarming with aphids - so a fat load of good they were. I've used no insecticides in the garden in the 3 years I've been here, and the fruit trees are being eaten alive! In the past two years, all the leaves had been sucked dry and had fallen off well before autumn. The "natural balance" obviously doesn't occur at a point compatitble with what I want from the garden, so I'm beginning to think that spraying may be required to give my trees a chance! Bob Heresy!! repeat the holy mantra 'if I do not spray, then by magic nature's predators will control all pests' until you are cured. You have to wonder why they ever invented sprays in the first place, surely prior to their existence there was no need for them? -- Tumbleweed Remove my socks for email address |
#9
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
In article , Vicky
writes I've been busily making my first batch of nettle manure as per the instructions on the website. It claims there that this can act to deter pests. Is this actually true? Has anyone succesfully used it like this? My sweetpeas are already covered in aphids and I only put them out at the weekend. I have more trouble with aphids indoors than out! I presume it's because of bluetits and so on outside. Fuchsias outside are fine, indoors they really suffer. Gardening without pesticides is a long slow process - the amount of damage I get is now a lot less than 5 years ago, but it's not something where you can expect instant results. -- Kay Easton Edward's earthworm page: http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm |
#10
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
The message
from "Bob" contains these words: Last year I had hundreds of ladybirds living on a patch of Euphorbias. A month later they had all flown away and the neighbouring plum tree was swarming with aphids - so a fat load of good they were. I've used no insecticides in the garden in the 3 years I've been here, and the fruit trees are being eaten alive! In the past two years, all the leaves had been sucked dry and had fallen off well before autumn. The "natural balance" obviously doesn't occur at a point compatitble with what I want from the garden, so I'm beginning to think that spraying may be required to give my trees a chance! Birds eat a LOT more aphids than ladybirds, I recommend that you encourage more birds to attend to your fruit trees, by hanging peanut and seed feeders in the trees to show them where the free food is. Using this method I've seen birds clear huge seasonal aphid-hatches on fir and viburnum, ib the space of a day or two. Janet. |
#11
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
The message
from "Tumbleweed" contains these words: You have to wonder why they ever invented sprays in the first place, surely prior to their existence there was no need for them? Perhaps for the same reason they invented hulahoops and plastic covers for outdoor furniture; to persuade gullible people to part with their money for no real benefit. Janet |
#12
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
On Thu, 6 May 2004 22:32:47 +0100, Janet Baraclough..
wrote: The message from "Tumbleweed" contains these words: You have to wonder why they ever invented sprays in the first place, surely prior to their existence there was no need for them? Perhaps for the same reason they invented hulahoops and plastic covers for outdoor furniture; to persuade gullible people to part with their money for no real benefit. True, but I think you miss Tumbleweeds point that if pests disappear by themselves when left alone, why was there ever any need to invent pesticides? |
#13
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
"Janet Baraclough.." wrote in message ... The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: By the way, if you used "organic" means other than the highly ineffectual ladybirds to control aphids, you are also killing off your ladybirds. They will simply die of hunger if there are no insects around for them. Is there research that shows they don't simply fly away to find aphids elsewhere? Where "organic means other than the highly ineffectual ladybirds may also be in use ..........." and so on ad inf. Franz |
#14
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
"Bob" wrote in message ... "Janet Baraclough.." wrote in message ... The message from "Franz Heymann" contains these words: By the way, if you used "organic" means other than the highly ineffectual ladybirds to control aphids, you are also killing off your ladybirds. They will simply die of hunger if there are no insects around for them. Is there research that shows they don't simply fly away to find aphids elsewhere? Janet. Last year I had hundreds of ladybirds living on a patch of Euphorbias. A month later they had all flown away and the neighbouring plum tree was swarming with aphids - so a fat load of good they were. I've used no insecticides in the garden in the 3 years I've been here, and the fruit trees are being eaten alive! In the past two years, all the leaves had been sucked dry and had fallen off well before autumn. The "natural balance" obviously doesn't occur at a point compatitble with what I want from the garden, so I'm beginning to think that spraying may be required to give my trees a chance! Of course you should. These "natural" ways of controlling the local balance of nature are mostly hyped up codswallop. Franz |
#15
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Chemicals?? Was ants everywhere
"Vicky" wrote in message ... I've used no insecticides in the garden in the 3 years I've been here, and the fruit trees are being eaten alive! In the past two years, all the leaves had been sucked dry and had fallen off well before autumn. The "natural balance" obviously doesn't occur at a point compatitble with what I want from the garden, so I'm beginning to think that spraying may be required to give my trees a chance! Bob I've been busily making my first batch of nettle manure as per the instructions on the website. It claims there that this can act to deter pests. Is this actually true? Has anyone succesfully used it like this? My sweetpeas are already covered in aphids and I only put them out at the weekend. Spray before it is too late. Franz |
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