I rarely pull them,I always let it grow out a bit to be sure first,but,Gramma on the other hand is her own worst enemy,she pulls out at least 3 different things a year! She is 71 and has not gotten any better over the years! She knows the difference,it just usually when it's too late! :O My suggestions is that of the medo and Linda,don't pull unless you are sure! I observe the seedlings as they grow,so if it is a weed,the next time around I know what it looks like at different stages. Don't feel bad,lots of gardeners sabotage them selves...lol..

I use a net but lots of winter debris still works it's way into the pond. I net it out or water vac it out because it is a lot easier to remove stuff that is not stinky, rotted and stomach turning. Actually it is broken down just right to add to some potting soil for texture. I haven't had to deal with the fuzzy algae so many ponds get. In fact, I think my pond is in too much shade to grow it. However, the stuff that is composed of rotted food and poop will work it's way into any crack or crevice and under anything sitting on the liner. whenever I pick up a pot or the terracotta tiles I stack to raise pots to the correct level, there is a cloud of stuff that billows out. I try to keep the cloud to a minimum because it scares the little fish and sometimes makes them sick so I move things around often enough that it doesn't happen at once. Sandy

Sorry to hear this Tim. If I were you I would remove the HOSP nest and hope the blues return. I doubt you will get the female HOSP now that the male has left. In my experience with TRES I see them highly motivated to run off any bird in paired boxes when they are nest building. Once they are laying/incubating and feeding nestlings they focus much more on that then defending the other box. I have lots of paired boxes and that is what I have found anyway. As far as the Blues letting the HOSP take over the box...well they know they cannot win I suppose, no eggs or nestlings to defend so it is hard to say. I think each bluebird is different too on how hard they defend things. This year I have a hugely territorial male, never had one like this before. He has chased off my chickadees and is trying to chase off all the Tree Swallows in the yard. He is defending four nestboxes, two of these are 65 yards or so from the box they have eggs in. Nothing will be nesting in the box paired 35 feet from the blues nestbox...he won't allow it. The chickadees weren't even house hunting, just trying to eat out of the birdfeeders and he won't allow it. A couple times I have seen a HOSP come to the feeder and I quickly try to get the bb gun but the Male bluebirds chases it away before I can even think about it. He won't stop chasing until it is out of the yard too. I am curious to see if he calms down a bit once the eggs hatch which should be next week. Good luck to you, hope your blues can get down to business now that that HOSP is gone. Donna

To keep the wasps from nesting there next year, try rubbing shortening on the ceiling of the box. It keeps the wasps from attaching their nest. People use it on Bluebird boxes all the time. If you don't have shortening, you can rub soap on the ceiling instead. Just don't get it on the sides so it won't get on the birds. Obviously this is after the wasps are gone and the box cleaned out (wouldn't want you to get stung).