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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=124252620-19082009>Yes the squash won't be ready till late September (if
we can keep the predators away!). If we can hold on a little longer they
will be fully ripened and sweeter!</SPAN></FONT></DIV><BR>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> garden-bounces@lists.wpirg.org
[mailto:garden-bounces@lists.wpirg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Dave
Dolson<BR><B>Sent:</B> August-13-09 3:08 PM<BR><B>To:</B> jrochon@uwaterloo.ca;
garden@lists.wpirg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Garden] [BULK] Groundhog
day<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=504260419-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I was wondering about the white squash-like objects
(spaghetti squash?). There is one out there today that the groundhog has not
touched yet (I know he/she likes them), but I don't know how to tell if this
item is ripe, or whether it needs to change colour. If you think this item is
ripe and you like to eat this item, please take it.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV><BR>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> garden-bounces@lists.wpirg.org
[mailto:garden-bounces@lists.wpirg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>J.
Rochon<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:19 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
garden@lists.wpirg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [BULK] [Garden] Groundhog
day<BR><B>Importance:</B> Low<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Gardeners,<BR>
Here are a few suggestions for non-violent ground hog control.<BR><BR>Option
#1 simply entails installing pinwheels or other devices around garden areas to
frighten groundhogs away (groundhogs are timid, and the motion will bother
them).<BR><BR>Option #2 Epsom salts can be sprinkled on the vegetation and
fruits of your garden plants to render them foul-tasting to groundhogs. The
good news about this strategy is that Epsom salts will also help some of your
garden plants to grow better. But the bad news is that rain will wash off the
Epsom salts, meaning that you will need to make repeated applications. Another
strategy that suffers from the same drawback is discouraging groundhogs with
foul-smelling agents such as ammonia. Ammonia-soaked rags can be strewn along
the perimeter of your garden, forming a stinky barrier to repel groundhogs.
But even ammonia's smell fades eventually and a re-application will be
necessary. <BR><BR>
<P>Option #3 (the one we are trying) Fences such as chicken-wire fences can
provide a more permanent solution to your groundhog pest problem. Be aware of
two factors, however: groundhogs can climb <B>over</B> your fences, and
groundhogs can tunnel <B>under</B> your fences. To discourage the former, make
your fences 3'-4' high. To foil <A onclick="zT(this, '1/XJ')"
href="http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/wildlife/g09452.htm">tunneling</A>
attempts, the University of Missouri Extension advises: </P>
<P>"The buried portion of the fence should be bent at a 90-degree angle, 1
foot below the surface, with the bottom of the fence pointing away from the
garden. This design discourages burrowing if it is started at the fence
line."<BR></P>
<P>#4 Castor Oil</P><BR>On the other hand, I’m told if you mix one ounce of
castor oil with 10 ounces of water you’ll deter all kinds of pests. According
to the castor-oil company in the U.S. the castor oil does not kill the pests,
they simply do not like the smell of it and avoid the area. In one study, not
only did the rodents stay away, but rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, raccoons
and skunks also stayed away. I have not tried this (the twenty foot square
garden does not have groundhogs or enough soil depth for them to live here) so
I can’t offer any support to this product. <BR>
<DIV id=TixyyLink
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; OVERFLOW: hidden; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-DECORATION: none"><BR>Read
more: <A
href="http://www.beginner-gardening.com/groundhogs.html#ixzz0O5HbfrR2">http://www.beginner-gardening.com/groundhogs.html#ixzz0O5HbfrR2</A><BR><BR>
<P><STRONG>Scent Deterrents:</STRONG> </P>
<UL>
<LI>Make a small pouch out of a nylon stocking or an onion bag and place
some dog hair in it. Attach this to a small stick and place in and around
your garden. The groundhog will think a predator is near.
<LI>Sprinkle dry blood meal around target plants to trick the groundhog into
thinking a predator is close by. </LI></UL>
<P><STRONG>Taste Deterrents:</STRONG></P>
<UL>
<LI>Plant garlic, onion and/or marigolds near the plants you would like to
protect or sprinkle garlic and onion powder on those plants for a similar
effect.
<LI>You can also sprinkle talcum powder on or near the plants as groundhogs
dislike this taste.
<LI>Plant a patch of clover or alfalfa to lure them away from your desired
plants. </LI></UL>And my favourite You can buy commercial repellents to keep
groundhogs out of your garden, but a homemade one that works well is 1 tbs.
hot sauce mixed into 1 gallon water. Spray the mixture directly onto the
plants. You can also spray it along the perimeter of the garden. MMmmmm....
hot sauce.<BR><BR></DIV>
<P></P><BR><PRE class=moz-signature cols="72">--
-----------------------
Jason Rochon
Campus Tech
(519) 888-4567 X33518
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