Re: Varmints
Glenn Breayley wrote:
> We get two main mole types here. The first are surface ' runners ' which are
> the carnivores & rip up roots in passing. The worst thing about these are
> that the better your soil gets & the more earthworms you encourage, the more
> they love it & the more damage they do.
I don't have earthworms here. Yes, I know that sounds weird, but my
pitiful sand kills earthworms. I am hoping that by constantly adding
amendments that I will be able to have earthworms living in the beds.
Of course as you say, the better the soil, the more critters that move
in thereby attracting the moles. Can't win.
> The second are vegetarian mound or dune moles, which sound analogous to your
> gophers. They form long intricate webs of quite deep tunnels with little
> raised mounds where they break the surface.
My gophers form huge mounds most of the time, about 18 inches across,
6-8 inches high. They have even buried plants.
I've had success controlling
> these by quietly opening a mound, sealing in a hose attached to my car
> exhaust & letting the car run for half an hour. It could be worth a try
You must be reading my mind! I have been threatening to try carbon
monoxide on these bums if I ever find an open mound or tunnel near the
driveway. I can't drive on my property or will sink in the sand. Do
you think the exhaust from a lawn tractor would work also? What kind of
hose do you use?
> We also have snakes adapted to feeding on moles.
I'm sure we do also and shudder to think what it would be like without
all the predators. Yikes!!
I find the question of
> whether the moles - & the gophers - have an inherent beneficial role in the
> ecosystem an interesting one. NZ doesn't have them & survives quite happily
> ( I can see Moira reading these letters with a quiet, satisfied smile ).
Ah but you have the equivalent in your moles and mound moles. Most
everyone I know in other parts of Texas or the world don't have
gophers. Lots of people have moles tho and usually complain that they
ruin the lawn. I don't have a lawn so at least don't have that
problem. I wouldn't care about the moles at all if they didn't unearth
small plants
and tunnel through the root system of others. If they were more
careful...
It
> is thought the reason many SA bulbs have evolved to produce multiple
> bulblets is so they can drop off to keep the plant going as the moles drag
> the main mother plant away. Thus they even help spread them.
So that's why my nasty bindweed is spreading all over, the moles are
breaking the roots and shoving them into new places.
Aaarrgghghghghhhh...
My husband calls me Morticia when he sees me yanking gorgeous purple
flowers off the vines yanking plants out of the ground, and screaming,
'burn them, burn them now!!
The gardeners
> rule of thumb for planting bulbs has been twice as deep as the bulb is high.
> I've been astounded however at some of the depths you'll see bulbs throwing
> shoots up from when you see them in washouts. Some of them can go a good
> 25 - 30 cm. In a natural setting I guess its all in balance.
Nature has a way of amazing me every day. If I tried to grow something
in an odd spot it would die right off. Leave it alone and it thrives!
Unfortunately stuff has a way of coming up where it is least
appreciated, the middle of a walk way, for instance. Sigh.
> Oh, for a NZ style mole free garden though.
Oh for a Texas style gopher/mole/leaf-cutter/cool/wet garden. (I dream
big, LOL)
> Capetown, South Africa
I was in Capetown three summers ago, winter for you. Traveled from
Ja'berg to Port E to Capetown then up to Zimbabwe and Zambia. I was
amazed at the plants that grew there, freaked out over wild lantana in
the rain forest at Vic Falls, and was thrilled to see what bloomed while
snow and frost was on the ground. Most of all I was amazed at the size
of everything, humongous compared to here. Came home and planted
bougainvillea and other 'tropical' plants straight into the ground and
they have wintered over just fine, some not even loosing their leaves at
19 degrees!! Loved all the roses and how each city has a different
color rose planted in the medians. Neat!
I had always said that before I died I wanted to drink water from a
Wildebeest hoof print. I found a Wildebeest and a Giraffe alone in a
clearing so took my opportunity. It was dry as a bone so I lugged water
from the car, poured it into the print and took a sip. The two animals
just stared at me like I had landed from Mars while my friend from
Ja'berg screamed at me to get in the car before a Lion ate me. <G> As I
walked away the Wildebeest ambled over to where I had been and began to
lap the small puddle. Life is good. :-)
Linda
