I just moved to the central coast of California, and there's a type of bird called a towhee that roots around in tangled bushes in my front yard. I really don't have a problem with that; but these pesky birds seem to take great delight in flipping decorative bark out of the planters and onto my driveway and into the street. I used my blower for the first time to get all the bark pieces back where they belonged, then I was gone for about one hour and returned to find an amazing amount of bark thrown back into the street and onto portions of my driveway. I might have to consider replacing the bark with rock; but is there any chemical repellant and can spray or otherwise distribute on the bushes these birds like to play in, so I can spend more time with yard maintenance other than cleaning up after these dang birds. I've never seen anything like it.

Thanks for your reply John. I am not sure what the previous owner put on the deck, just assuming it is Thompson's because that is what most people in this area use. I will go to the website you mentioned and see about finding the oxalic wash. Also, this deck is around an above ground pool and will get lots of wet traffic on it. What would you advise me to retreat it with?

Someone dug up a white BOP from my yard once, and it left a HUGE hole. My neighbor had to get someone with a backhoe to take his up once it got too big for where he had planted it. If you dig it out, plan on having a pile of dirty ready to fill in the hole. I turned my hole into a bog garden. If you really want to kill it without herbicides, start pouring salt on it and watering it in. You can buy the big bags of salt that are used in salt-water pools if it's really big. Of course, the ground around it will be salted too, so if you have desirable plants close to it, that might not be a good idea. You can pour the salt right into the center of it, and it will spread and kill all the roots eventually.

How about this? Get some totes (or boxes). Put the clothes in these totes. Seal them. Date them, say, 60 days, 90 days, 120 days hence, etc. Agree that if he hasn't unsealed a tote by the date, you can donate the contents. I was going to suggest the same thing. I've done it for myself -- and I wasn't sorry. Maybe you can't get rid of these excess clothes, but you can pack them away neatly. Personally, about a year ago I went through my closet and got rid of about 60% of my clothes -- and I am thrilled with the result. I can't even remember specific garments I "lost", but I love that everything in my closet fits, everything is a complete outfit, and everything fits into the closet without stuffing. When I retire (in another year), I can't wait to ditch the khaki pants and unflattering polo shirts that I am occasionally required to wear to school -- I've come to resent "junk" in my closet. An unexpected benefit: I have become very discriminating about what I buy (not that this has been a big shopping year anyway). I find myself asking, "Does this deserve a space in my life?" and "Would I really wear this often enough to justify spending on it?" Honestly, the only thing I've really bought in the last year is a pair of red dress shoes -- and I really need another pair of jeans. This is maybe easier for me, given that I'm so close to retirement, because I've also vowed not to buy anything I can't imagine wearing in my retirement years. My DH is a slob. He was a slob when I married him (46 years ago) and he is still a slob. He will never change. His mother was a slob too. I have had to adjust to his ways as I’m a neatnick and OCD too. Pick your battles. Do you want to die on this hill? I could say the same; well, except that I never knew his mother -- she died when he was a teenager. When I want to kill him because of his slovenly ways, I force myself to think about all the things he does well: he's a good provider, a wonderful father, he always lets me drive the new car, he takes my car out every Sunday and fills it with gas, he supports me in my career, he and I share so many hobbies -- so many things. I can get angry about his slovenly ways, start a fight, and end up doing the cleaning myself anyway -- or I can do it myself and remember that he contributes in other ways. Tupelo: If your boyfriend is unwilling to change, then you must ask yourself if this is the future you want for yourself and your future children: a significant other who doesn't care about how you want to live, or perhaps is chronically overwhelmed by life or is simply lazy? Not taking care of one's intimate belongings for an extended period of time is a sign of issues that will impact your future and not in a good way, these are bad habits that interfere with the development of the individual and also a couple. Good point. The OP isn't formally connected to this guy yet -- and she can still choose just how big an impediment this is.