Elimination of Voles
17 years ago
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- 17 years ago
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Gross Lawn Rehab; fixing weeds, compaction, rodents, etc.
Comments (29)Re: the rehab and what I did right or wrong.... 1) I would not install sod next time in the first place. I would get the exact seed that I want and call in a hydro-seeder. 2) Really make sure to scalp the lawn. I mean cut it really short! Nothing taller than 1/2". Anything taller than that and it mats down under the top dressing which means the seed won't take because the grass underneath creates an air pocket that kills the new grass, but KBG doesn't grow through like some of the warm season grasses. 3) With KBG I'd do it in May if I had a choice. There are going to be weed problems whenever you expose fertile soil, but it is manageable. Forget about the weed issues because there is an easy solution there with KBG. But KBG takes a LONG time to come in from seed. The one thing that doesn't help is if it starts to get cold before it really starts growing well. IOW, if you wait till Sept to avoid some of the weeds and it starts to drop below 50*F in Oct, it'll be till late next spring before things start to look good again. The important issues with KBG are moisture and soil temp. May/June is best IMO. 4) Do it all in one shot! If there are low spots that will require more than the suggested 1/4" top dressing, just go ahead and fill them in. Don't wait! Have your preferred seed on hand and get that thing level the first time. This work is too strenuous to be doing it more than once. Little touch-ups later are to be expected, but get it 90% done in the first shot. 5) Anything more than 4,000sf you should try to locate a mechanical spreader for the top dressing and drag the lute or chain link around with a lawn tractor. 6) This is a point of debate, but... Currently the Orbit sprinkler heads are much better than the Rainbirds. Make sure that your sprinklers are exactly how you want them before doing anything with the lawn. And yes, sand isn't great for them, but it is pretty easy to fix. There are probably more that I'll include later....See MoreGopher rants
Comments (89)I use a very effective gas called "Giant Destroyer" and it is a god-send. They look like sticks of dynamite, come in 4 packs and can be found in any box store garden section. You light the fuse, stick it in the hole, and quickly cover it up - ensuring no gas is coming out of the ground anywhere and vwalah - the end. I've been using them for years to keep the horse pastures free of deadly holes. I just started using them in the garden this year as it became overrun with gophers. Had 5 different areas with gopher tunnels underneath rose/flower beds. One Giant Destroyer in a fresh hole leading to each tunnel and ... right now, all is quiet. I love animals and it doesn't make me feel good to kill these guys. But - I also love my flowers and horses......See MoreVole Damage May be Repaired
Comments (10)Michael, Cutting it back very severely is what I did to my Pink Garnette. The plant has this lovely new growth. Karen, someone on the cottage garden forum said she had used a product called Plant Skydd, and it had eliminated her vole problem. This is a product that is produced from blood. (hog blood is one component.) Supposedly, the burrowing pests do not like digging where it has been used. It is a dry product that is in an ingenious package, You pull a strip off of one end of the package to reveal a netting covering it, then you turn the package upside down (a handle is built in to the opposite end) and just shake to sprinkle the product around...you never have to touch it. It isn't cheap, but usually when another gardener uses a product and says it works I tend to believe them much more than an advertiser. One big advantage of Pet Skydd is it will not harm any pet or critter. (Your neighbor's cats would be safe) I have put out a bait station (made by vole control.) The poison is in an inverted "T" shaped station. The ends of the cross bar of the inverted "T" are open to allow voles access to the poison. The end of the vertical part of the "T" has a screw cap that you open, pour a measured amount of poison into, then re-screw the cap. You anchor the bait station with an metal stake(included) so it can't be knocked about to spill poison. This deterred (killed) the voles in my roses, but I then ordered some of the Plant Skydd and have used it too. In truth, I also take a pitch fork and puncture any vole runs I find, followed by stomping them flat. I'm not sure I accomplish much that way, but it makes me feel better to take a more active part and I do seem to have discouraged the little devils. (Can't you imagine when the neighbors see this, they think I've lost it? "Look at that crazy woman, what is she doing now?" but that's another story.) And once again, I thank all of you for the information you so freely share. I am a newbie at growing antique roses, but I love them. kay...See MoreAttack of the Killer Voles
Comments (6)If you're interested, go to my website at www.traplineproducts.com and check out the section on voles. I show a very effective set up for trapping voles. Also, I think it's unlikely your voles somehow got smart--it's far more likely that for whatever reason whether it be rust on trigger mechanisms, or weakened springs, the the traps you were using probably became less effective. Here is a link that might be useful: trapline products...See More- 17 years ago
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