We asked are neighbors nicely 2 times over the past 2 years to just to stop feeding peanuts , because the squirrels were becoming a problem and destroying our property. The neighbors have numerous bird feeders and fill them with peanuts which spill onto the ground so the squirrels can easily get them. It was costing us money to repair the damages the squirrells were causing to our property. We keep buying repellent but it only works until it rains So when we asked a 3rd time a couple weeks ago our neighbors replied "it wasn't their problem and to stop whining" . Of course my husband blew up and swore at them. Anyhow now they've sent us a letter stating we are harrassing them and since it is not illigal to feed squirrels in our comunnity, they plan to take legal action if we ask them again and to stay off their property. So I emailed our mayor to see if we could get an ordinance passed within reason to maybe put limits on feeders to stop the eccentrics from going overboard. He said it wasn't a popular ordinance in our community and none of our representatives would even consider it. He suggested moth balls to put in my garage. The squirrells are in the garden and on the roof. Time for a new mayor, I guess.

It's really simple!! Go buy a 4 feet picket fence sections. Staple gun 1/2 to 1 inch 36 inch high galvanized fencing all around it. Rabbits can't get through there. You can also toss a 100 black eyed Susan seeds in some soil, water and the rabbits will eat them instead. You can plant a few full size black eyed Susan plants and they spread. No need to buy anymore. The rabbits eat the leaves and they grow in thicker. You can also make a surround of rose bushes and anything thorny so they can't try climbing over. Use you noggins, observe whatvrrally needs to be done and do it. Stop killing and trapping wildlife. They have young they'll leave behind to starve if you trap. Plus you need a permit. It's against the law to trap no remove any nursing wildlife. If you really want to block the rabbits you'd build the right enclosure to begin with. In the end spending the money for the fencing and flowers will save you time and money. It'll last for years. Then everyone's happy! Don't build a garden without protection and cry about the wildlife. They were here first. They can't read or know it's " your garden".

DE is the ground exoskeletons of microscopic fossilized animals called diatoms, similar to coral. The particles contain very sharp edges that may be viewed under a microscope. The theory is that insects that come in contact with the powder sustain numerous cuts and scratches from which seep bodily fluids. They dry up and die, basically bleeding to death. Many proponents attribute all sorts of powers to that magic dust, claiming it cures everything from parasites to cancer. The theory with internal parasites is that it has the same effect on them as it does crawling insects. Few who share this belief are able to answer what effect the cutting particles have on an animal's digestive tract. Some believe that using it as a dust bath will kill external parasites. It may, but the cutting action also has an affect on the feahter quality. This might be OK for the average backyard flock, but not for those who show, or even just those who prefer to see their birds in attractive healthy plumage. Chinchilla breeders learned this long ago when someone decided to promote DE as a much cheaper alternative to the dust that they use for the animals to keep their coats in condition. The hair follicles were damaged by DE, making many pelts worthless. I've used it to dust cracks and crevices of a coop to help reduce mites, and in manure piles as a nontoxic maggot killer. I've no proof that it worked, but it was unlikely to harm my birds in those situations. Maybe it helped with your insect problem, even though they were on the walls and the DE was in the bedding. Maybe also you just had a seasonal bloom of a normally short lived species, or maybe the birds finally discovered them and feasted. Either way, they were not mites or lice, which do not jump, and are rarely seen in any numbers away from the hosts.

Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal