Garden & Greenhouse May 2019 Issue | Page 30

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ been shown in university studies, to be a repel- lant, not attractant! Spray: Mix one cup household (non-sudsy) am- monia with water, and spray directly on the crit- ters. Another Spray: Don’t throw away the left-over coffee! Mix it 50/50 with water (some say use it straight), and spray. I add about 2 ounces of rub- bing alcohol per gallon to keep mold from grow- ing on the liquid surface when the stuff is stored. Seems to work great on Bush Snails. Barriers If you suffer from slugs climbing up onto the benches and attacking your plants, there are sev- eral ways of blocking their path, ranging from mechanical to chemical: Mechanical: Spread a layer of Diatomaceous Earth on the benches and around your plants. The material – the skeletons of microscopic sea creatures (diatoms) – is almost pure silicon di- oxide, and has very sharp points and edges that discourage the passage of the creatures. The ma- terial sold as a microfi ltration medium for aquari- ums probably won’t do much. If you can fi nd horticultural grade material, it is coarser and has much sharper edges that make a great barrier. Mechanical II: Staple extra-coarse wet/dry sand- paper to the legs of your benches, grit side out. GENERAL FILTERS INCORPORATED Touch Screen & Wi-Fi Control Dehumidifier GeneralAire ® Model DH75 Touch Screen & Wi-Fi Control Dehumidifier NEW! (Order GFI #5333) (Order GFI #4904) Removes Up To 75 Pints Per Day Fan-Only Function Low-Temperature Lockout Filter Hour Indicator MERV 11 Filter AFCI Power Cord Add the 2124-Z UV Air Purifier UVC, UVV, and PCO in One Light! Order GFI #4904 NEW! ** Change Settings From Almost Anywhere With Wi-Fi ** This product should be installed only by a qualified contractor. DH100 also available - Removes up to 100 pints per day (Order GFI #5334)! (866) 476-5101 www.generalfilters.com General Filters, Inc. 43800 Grand River Ave Novi, MI 48375 30 ◆ ◆ Mechanical / Electrochemical: Tightly wrap the legs of your bench with a 2� (5cm) wide strip of copper foil, being sure to apply it tightly enough to avoid gaps. The copper is supposed to create some sort of uncomfortable electrochemical effect when in contact with the “slime” secreted by the critters. I suppose it’s like biting on a piece of foil if you have metal fi llings in your teeth! Chemical: Apply a thick layer of the product Tree Tanglefoot around the legs of the bench. It is available at most good garden centers and is sold as a bird repellent for ornamental trees. It contains a castor-bean extract that repels slugs and snails. Baits If you just want to lure the critters away from your plants so you can dispose of them, try putting slices of raw potato near the potted plants on the bench. The slugs and snails can be found on the un- derside in the morning. Boil approximately 2 cups of water, 2 teaspoons or a packet of yeast, and 2 tablespoons of honey to- gether. The relative proportions aren’t that important. Mix, and then put it out in shallow trays or pans for the snails. Refresh it every week or two. Algaecides (for cooling pads) Place one cup of whole ground cornmeal in an old sock or panty hose leg. Tie a knot in it to contain the meal and place it in the water tank for the cooling system. The algae will dissolve in a few days. Note: I have no idea if this method- ology can be used for algae grow- ing in pots.) Herbicide Spray full-strength household vinegar on weeds, repeat daily as needed. This is not to be used for weeds growing in the pots of your other plants, but is good in driveways, walkways, the greenhouse fl oor, patios, etc. General Purpose Disinfectant Add one ounce of household chlorine bleach to a gallon of water and spray on utensils, benches, even your plants to control a wide variety of pathogens. It even helps control algae. Leaf Shine If you live in an area where the water has a fair amount of dissolved minerals, or if you mist with a fertilizer solution, the leaves of your plants can be- come dull in appearance. Folks may warn you that these treatments can clog the pores (stomata) on the leaves, but I’ve never seen a problem. www.GardenandGreenhouse.net May 2019