Philoz, I used Air-Pots last year. I used them only for rooting (which will change this year) but they come in sizes to 120 gallons. One of the nice things about them is they are shipped flat. Therefore, the assembly involves one to wrap the flat sheet and secure it with a "fixing" (in my case its something very similar to what holds the upholstery into your automobile sheet metal.) When it is time to repot/root-prune, you can remove the fixing, and unwrap the container from around your tree in place. This is necessary because of the design of the container, but it comes in handy for other reasons as well. The overall design of the container is suppose to prevent (or at least minimize) many root problems associated with container growth. I found it to be moderately successful. I posted on the use of the pots in this forum. I think I just titled it "Air-Pots". I seem to remember a distributor in Australia. good luck, ~james

Thank you all for your advice (sorry for the late thank-you -- have been having intermittent computer problems). I wish the prevention part were that easy -- we live in Va. Beach and our property is on the Lynnhaven River -- fairly brackish shallow muddy and probably mosquito nirvana. Our property has a "dog leg" strip that goes down to the water, but we haven't cleared it yet (and legally I'm not sure how we'll wind up doing that -- harsh restrictions because they're trying to revive historical oyster beds). That area is full of marsh grasses, poison ivy and lots of muddy puddle areas. The perimeter of the rest of our rectangular lot is fairly heavily covered in trees, azaleas, ivy, etc. -- lots of hiding places. We're working to clear it somewhat (replacing ivy with mulch) but I also am torn -- I like providing habitat for wildlife (and we have plenty!). I think the biggest problem are the Asian tiger mosquitoes. They're out all day and are so small and fast -- and from what I've read can breed in 1/4" of water very quickly. We purchased one of those pheromone/CO2 traps (is supposed to lure them in where they're fanned into a tray of soapy water) and caught lots of moths. I called the manufacturer in New Zealand and was told that "oh -- they'll work on pretty much all mosquitoes except Asian tiger mosquitoes." We've also got what I'd consider a healthy predatory population -- tons of skinks, snakes, frogs, every bug imaginable (some have got to be predatory, right?) -- I know we've got wheel bugs because I accidentally killed a nymph yesterday before I realized it wasn't a squash bug nymph (similar body shape; wrong color...). Spiders everywhere. We live on a secluded private lane and I've never noticed the city spraying back here. But,.... we're getting eaten alive. Even my husband and kids are getting bitten this year, which is rare. Contrary to what I've heard on the news from "studies" I would disagree that concentrations above 15-20% deet are no more effective than the lower ones. If I wear the "regular" lower concentrations I might as well wear "here's dinner" signs. When I wear the 10-hour yucky oily stuff that's 95% deet it works like a charm. It's horrible, and who knows what it's doing to me, but at least I can step outside and check the garden. But, I did get in my shipment of essential oils -- I just still don't know how to mix the concoctions -- I've read the recipes posted but don't know what the base is. I'm even growing lots of catnip -- I don't yet have enough to take handfuls of the stuff and rub it on myself, but I'm working on it! So thanks again -- and I'll still welcome any recipes! mcaren

How about when it's a beautiful day out and your neighbor down the way decides it's a great day to burn that ginormous pile of green wood he's got in his backyard! And the wind is blowing right your way.... I have one of those guys that does this at least once a week - drives me up the wall. One time I noticed that (for once) it was blowing straight in HIS house and I was sooo happy I did a little happy dance right there in my yard! Sorry to be hijacking the thread about Bounce! I would probably hang dryer sheets from my roses if I thought it would keep certain bugs away (but it would probably keep ALL of them away, I imagine). Lynn

"Spic 'n Span" is TSP, or at least it used to be. The thing is that a lot of localities (states?) have outlawed phosphate detergents, since they are very polluting in the water. I know that in New York I can't get real TSP because of that, and hunting around for it (unless I'm willing to drive to other states) isn't going to help. Googling around I find this from the University of Colorado: "In the end, local needs for immediate action to curtail eutrophication coupled with scientific, judicial, and popular support resulted in the patchwork of legislation the Industry had feared. By 1985, jurisdictions which had enacted phosphate bans included New York, Michigan, Indiana, Vermont, Minnesota, Dade County, Florida, Akron, Ohio, and Chicago Illinois (footnote 257 in Fleming et al. 1986). Typical are state statutes which limit phosphate content for certain types of detergents and in certain areas. For example in Pennsylvania, the Water and Sewage Phosphate Detergent Act of 1989 and amended in 1992 (PA ST 35 P.S. §§ 722.1 - 722.3) affects "all counties partially or wholly within the Susquehanna River Watershed or in the Lake Erie Watershed." This Act prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of any cleaning agents containing any phosphate, except contained incidentally during manufacture. But excluded from this ban are cleaning agents used in dairy, beverage and food processing equipment, in hospitals and health care facilities, in agricultural production, by industries for metal cleaning, in biological and chemical research facilities, and those used in the household for cleaning windows, sinks, counters, stoves, tubs and other food preparation surfaces and plumbing fixtures. Dishwashing detergents are allowed to be up to 8.7% phosphorus by weight." I guess you can still find phosphates if you look, if you're not in the states mentioned. Look at dishwashing detergents. But if you use detergents for automatic dishwashers, wear gloves! That stuff is extremely alkaline and will burn you in high enough concentrations.