There's been a lot of buzz about banana skins keeping aphids away [Google it], might be worth a try. Threw in another cool link. Washing formulations change. We tried an experiment to kill some crabgrass in the driveway, way back, in the olden days, by throwing a bucket of leftover floor suds on it. Spic'n Span, in those days, turned out to be TSP [ tri sodium phosphate] in an orange box. LOL! Fertilizer ! Dish formulations are changing, most of them are too harsh on fine fabrics now, though i can still use palmolive green liquid. Using some in the oven, was a disaster, it wouldn't all come off, and it scorched, with a dangerous smell. I used years ago, in a spray bottle: ~2 Tbs oil [light, veggie], a small squirt of dishsoap to make it stick, & maybe a little alcohol or vinegar, some garlic or hot pepper... Some aromatics and herbs work as a repellent, so, he he, well, why not just use dirty dishwater? he he, It's a silly notion, that i like my plants too much, to ever try. There's always other stuff, that would make a gummy mess. Besides, it would hurt their feelings. :] Baby shampoo, sounds good. Do they even still sell soap? I couldn't find any anymore, at the S&S. Ivory Snow is now a detergent. Did they have to take it off the market, because there might be a bad cow in the tallow? Who knows. Murphy's Oil Soap is good on scale, and a lot of other pests. Cycle it , with the Safer's, 2 uses of one, then, 2 of the other, The Lemon oil-furniture oil, might have a bigger kick, than cooking oil, in soap / oil combos. Some bugs can't take lemon or pine scent. What about the cheap pine oil cleaners? The store brands have 18%. That might be hard on plants, but heck on bugs, if some one gets daring enough, don't use more than a teaspoon per gallon, and use it late in the day. Great thread. Here is a link that might be useful: Banana skins, aphids, and odd stuff

I've also had a problem with critters eating my shastas but it's the chipmunks here. Have never had that problem before. We seem to have a lot more chipmunks than usual. I expect there will be fewer next year tho as they have lots of predators. They have really done a number on my poor shastas and I've had to trim many and still have more to do. I always let some self-seed so they are looking quite pathetic right now. I don't expect too many to rebloom this late as we've also had too much heat, not enough rain, and will likely have frost soon. I've watered but I still think the plants are stressed. We also have deer and marmots but they don't eat my shastas. There won't be permanent damage to your shastas from critters "pruning" them. They are really tough plants and will grow back next spring. Even here in zone 3 they thrive, self-seed, and become almost like weeds.

I'd like to know how your brother fixed it too. I hope you took pictures or had an outside party witness anything that was found. I'm not sure what "pulling on" something means and that could be hard to prove. I think it's odd to favor a previous issue over a faulty install or dw in that the problem occurred or became apparent to the HO only after the new machine was installed. They were unaware of any leaks and the installer said and documented absolutely nothing. Now he claims there was an existing problem. So what idjut would simply install a new dishwasher over soggy flooring in need of repair or dry-out, without raising the issue of a leak with the HO first. I think that is negligent, irresponsible and wreckless on his part. If there was an active leak prior to install, why didn't he report it? I would think it would be SOP for an installer to run the machine to make sure it isn't leaking before leaving the premises, in order to check their work and that the machine was running properly. I wonder if LL had any discussions at all with the installer while he was there.

DirtBike, Yes, sometimes we get busy with our lives or the board just gets so busy and fast some questions just get overlooked. Sometimes we just don't know how to answer a question and wait for someone more knowledgeable to answer or take a stab at it. If no one feels they have an answer sometimes those questions get lost. Most of us are all pretty new at growing citrus too. We may look like a clique but that is because we are all very enthusiastic about our trees and all the varieties out there and glad we have found others that have the same interest and enthusiasm. Please, don't feel intimidated and just jump in and ask your question again. Steve (Poncirus) is usual good about going back and bumping up the unanswered questions that get buried at times. That usually gets some answers. Detailed pictures as well as pictures of the whole tree often help us all to help you better. We can often see things wrong that are hard to describe without a picture. Many of us grow in containers and don't feel knowledgeable enough about in ground trees and vice versa to answere questions we have no experience with. Glad you hopped aboard to join in with us! Cory