Re: Conundrum

**A* v* g* <g*@lists.ibiblio.org>**

Duane - I've never tried this, so I have no idea if it would work. It  
sounds logical to me, but, then, perhaps my logic is flawed. In any case,  
thought it might be worth an experiment if you have the hornets, the compost,  
and the plastic. After all, isn't that what gardening is all about?  
Experimenting and succeeding - or failing and trying again until we get it  right?

Lina

In a message dated 9/6/2015 9:25:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
dcamp911@gmail.com writes:

Lina --  I appreciate your suggestion, and I hope you won't be offended if 
I 
point  out a couple of problems. First, compost is an organic pile full of 
air  pockets, just what you want, but that also makes it an excellent  
insulator. Even with clear plastic, I doubt if significant heat would  
penetrate more than a few inches. But beyond that, here is my complaint  
about soil solarization. Yes, it kills weed seeds and disease organisms  
and 
fungi, but it also kills everything else. Jeff, what happens to all  those 
beneficial micro-organisms you are so fond of when you cook the  soil? And 
aren't those tiny critters the primary benefit of  compost?

Duane Campbell
Syndicated garden columnist
Author:  Best of Green Space; 30 Years of Composted  Columns

-----Original Message----- 
From: AldieOaks--- via  gardenwriters
Sent: Sunday, September 06, 2015 3:13 PM
To:  terichace@aol.com ; leeareich@gmail.com ;  
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [GWL]  Conundrum

Teri,

Have you tried covering the compost pile with  clear plastic after they're
all gone to nest for the night, weighing it  down securely so they can't get
out,  and letting the combined heat  from the sun and the pile itself cook
them? Think  I'd give that a try  before I'd go for the poisons.

If you use clear plastic instead of  black plastic or a tarp it  may heat
things up more - think of it as  solarizing your compost pile and their 
nests
instead of the  soil.

Lina Burton

In a message dated 9/6/2015 12:16:31  P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org  writes:

Thanks,  Lee!

Oh, no. They're all moving to my  house?! The compost pile  especially
attracts them.

I have  spent my professional garden-writing  career urging people not  to
spray willy-nilly, to read labels and follow  precautions and  directions, 
etc.
etc.

The chemical sprays labeled  for  these critters are really nasty (contain
allethrin, a pyrethroid),  causing  eye and lung irritation at the very 
least
(also, I think,  harmful to aquatic  creatures, not a concern on or near my
property).  I had one of those moments,  you know, "give me something lethal
and  let me soak the place down!!!" Then I  collected myself and tried  the
Rainbow vac.

Torching? I'd burn my house  down!  :(

Hoping some of our colleagues on this list can add to this   discussion...

Teri Dunn Chace
Writer *  Editor *  Consultant * Speaker
537 Garden St.
Little Falls, NY  13365
315-866-6480
978-317-2357  cell
http://terichacewriter.com/
terichace@aol.com
LinkedIn   profile
JUST PUBLISHED!  Seeing Seeds: A Journey into the  World of Seedheads, Pods,
and   Fruit

-----Original Message-----
From:  Lee  Reich <leeareich@gmail.com>
To: Teri Chace  <terichace@aol.com>;  Garden Writers -- GWL -- The  Garden
Writers Forum  <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent:  Sun, Sep 6, 2015 12:03  pm
Subject: Re: [GWL]  Conundrum

Teri,

An  hour south of you, weâve  seen fewer wasps and yellow jackets this year
than  any other year.  Most years I periodically walk around with a
blowtorch,  blasting  nests I find in their favorite nesting places. This 
year,  not
necessary.

Lee

Lee Reich,  PhD

Come visit my farmden at            http://www.leereich.com/blog

http://leereich.com/

Books  by Lee  Reich:

A Northeast Gardener's  Year

The  Pruning Book

Weedless Gardening

Uncommon Fruits for Every   Garden

Landscaping with Fruit

Grow Fruit   Naturally

On Sep 5, 2015, at 9:08  PM,  Teri Chace via gardenwriters  <
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:

Duane,
Fear  and trembling!! I'm  not sure where you live, but here in Upstate  NY,
we're are seeing wasps and  yellowjackets this summer that ever  before, and
I wonder why. A squadron  attacked us on our back deck one  evening, leaving
four wounded. Quick action  with ice packs helped a  bit. Immediate action
with baking-soda paste has also  proven  effective in reducing piercing pain
and swelling at the site of the   bites/stings.

I saw Peter's  comment about water, but, heavens, we  are dry for weeks of
late!

I have discovered a weapon,  however:  the Rainbow vacuum cleaner, the model
that sucks stuff (dirt  and debris, and  little vicious flying insects,
alive or dead) into a  swirling reservoir base  of water. Had to outfit 
myself in
heavy  clothing to wield it. You can imagine  the language on my foes I  
used
during this operation.

But seriously, folks, Peter or others:  tell us  more about their habits,
any predators, any Achilles heel,  any other effective  battle tactics?

---Terrified   Teri

PS I am flat-out afraid to  approach my compost pile, even if  armed with
aforementioned Rainbow vac.

Teri Dunn  Chace
Writer * Editor * Consultant * Speaker
537 Garden St.
Little  Falls, NY 13365
315-866-6480
978-317-2357   cell
http://terichacewriter.com/
terichace@aol.com
LinkedIn   profile
JUST PUBLISHED! Seeing Seeds: A  Journey  into the World of Seedheads, Pods,
and  Fruit

-----Original Message-----
From:  Duane  Campbell <     dcamp911@gmail.com>
To: GWL  <     gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep  5, 2015 6:54 pm
Subject: [GWL] Conundrum

Itâs hard to imagine  getting tired of Miss Kim  lilac, but this one had
taken
over a  rather large  garden area. This spring I ripped most of it  out,
potting up
ten one and two gallon containers to give to friends and  for  my annual two
hour
plant sale. (Two bucks and I  couldnât  sell them all; I live among
Philistines.)
The  intent was to create  a new planting quickly, not wait until weeds
covered
the entire plot  four feet tall, but it was a  cold, miserable spring. So  I
have
finally gotten to  it.  Since this area had been  planted with shrubs and

perennials for a couple of decades or more,  little had been done to
improve the
soil. Fortunately I had two 3X3X3  foot  (originally) compost piles ready to

harvest. Simple.   Deconstruct the compost piles, spread several inches on
the
plot, dig it  in, and put in plants that had been waiting patiently for  a
few
months.

Not simple. (The motto on my personal crest  is  Nil umquam facile  est.)

The compost has become the happy  home of wasps,  German yellowjackets
perhaps,
but though I speak  German  they donât answer), who are claiming  birthright

citizenship in my compost. These are not common stinging  insects that
create a
quick burning sensation, you run in and grab   the anti-sting stick (I did
that),
and after a couple  of hours it  goes away. No, these are super stingers. My
first
meeting provided  several stings that left me in agony for two  days. I  
have

literally never felt such pain. Iâd rather  have my gall  bladder out again.

Seriously. It took a  week for the effects to  completely fade.

Much to the
distress of my daughter  who is  quasi-organic, I powdered the whole compost
pile
with Sevin dust, like  an April snowfall, threw a tarp over it, and waited
for
three days. Then  I dressed in the August heat as if  it were January,
removed  the
tarp, and swung a pick  into the middle of the pile. I have done a  lot of
stupid
things in my life, but this is certainly in the top ten  list. Fortunately
there
was little skin exposed and I had been  educated  by prior experience to run
as if
I were not   superannuated.

So here,  finally, is my question. How do I get  these
bastards  out of my compost? The barren plot out front awaits  your wisdom.

Duane  Campbell
Syndicated garden  columnist
Author: Best of Green Space; 30
Years of   Composted
Columns

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