Meet Mike on Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17,听at The Calvert (County) Home Show in Prince Frederick, Maryland.
Rubber mulch not a deterrent to termites
In last week鈥檚 bits, we passed on a warning from Terminex that running mulch right up against the side of your home is a prime invitation for termites. This led online reader 鈥淕F Jacket鈥� to say the 鈥渂est way to keep termites away while mulching close to your house is to use rubber mulch.鈥�
Well, that鈥檚 an understandable but completely incorrect assumption, GF. It isn鈥檛 the wood in听most modern mulches that draws termites to your home; it鈥檚 the protective layer of underground moisture created by any kind of mulch — wood, rubber, even stone.
One of the simplest and best ways to protect your home against termite infestation is to have an area of bare ground — at least 4听inches and preferably 12 —听around your foundation.听Any kind of mulch touching your home invites termites to feast on your framing. Any kind of mulch.
Mosquito control 101
Arlene in Silver Spring writes: 鈥淢osquito time is coming and we want to be able to enjoy our yard this year — which is often impossible after May. Will you be doing any segments on this problem again soon?鈥�
We already did, Arlene — a month ago, when the Zika virus was making huge news. 听is devoted to not getting bitten, including how to make cool BTI traps that will foil egg-laying females.
Right now, you should be cleaning up outdoor trash such as听bottle caps and plastic bags; emptying standing water from wheelbarrows, buckets, plant saucers, recycling bins and the like, and making sure your gutters are clear of water and debris. They鈥檙e a huge unseen source of mosquito breeding.
Herbal sprays make effective outdoor mosquito barriers
Arlene continues: 鈥淚 believe you have recommended garlic spray in the past as an outdoor mosquito repellent. A mosquito abatement company based in Montgomery County is offering what they say is an all-natural mosquito barrier spray made with rosemary, geraniol and peppermint …鈥�
Sounds like a nice mix, Arlene. Essential oils of rosemary and peppermint are shown to be effective mosquito repellents. And geraniol is an essential oil distilled from certain geraniums, roses and the well-known mosquito-repelling plant citronella (specifically from the fragrant root of the giant tropical grass of that name).
Regular sprays of such a mixture 鈥� or good ol鈥� garlic oil 鈥� should help keep mosquitoes from using your yard as their personal blood bank. You鈥檒l find garlic oil sold as a barrier spray under several brand names; the originals are 鈥淕arlic Barrier鈥� and 鈥淢osquito Barrier.鈥�
Can I grow a kumquat?
Lou in Rockville writes: 鈥淚 recently read an article about how good kumquats are, and was wondering if I could raise them in the vicinity of Rehoboth in Delaware. I鈥檓 sure I could do it in a large pot, but was wondering how well they might do in the ground in a sheltered yard?鈥�
Kumquats are totally tropical plants, Lou, and would die with the first frost in Rehoboth or Rockville. But like many other types of small citrus, the tasty little treats can be grown in a pot that goes outside in summer and back indoors for the winter.
My friend Lee Reich, author of the book Grow Fruit Naturally, personally pots kumquats in upstate New York. He says that the leaves of the plants are an attractive glossy green, the flowers are heavily scented, and the orange-colored fruits are unique in that you eat them skin and all. In fact, Lee says, the inner part of the fruit is tart, but the skin is sweet.
A frosty start to April
Have you been enjoying the ridiculously warm weather the last few days and weeks? Well, get ready to be reminded of why April is called 鈥渢he cruelest month.鈥� Most of our region is about to fall prey to frosts and freezes over the next few nights.
If you have houseplants or overly optimistic starts of peppers, tomatoes or other summer crops outdoors, bring them in now听鈥� before they get the big chill.
Don鈥檛 worry about spring bulbs or cool-weather crops such as听peas and salad greens; they can handle a couple of cold nights.
Try to protect fruit trees such as听peaches and apples that are currently in full bloom, especially if you live in one of the areas predicted to drop below 30 degrees over the next few evenings.
Water the soil well (fruiting trees can better resist cold stress if they鈥檙e well-watered); drape the canopies with floating row cover (the biggest brand name is Reemay); or hang old-fashioned incandescent Christmas lights in the trees, and leave them on overnight to help the flowers resist freezing.
