Re: Astilbe again

I have also been successful with the old upside down empty milk jug (sides
cut out like a lantern) with an empty pill bottle suspended from the middle
of the bottom of the jug (it's now the top, because it is upside down) the
mouth of the jug has a small (1 gallon to 5 gallon size) plastic trash bag
secured to the outside of the mouth by a very tight rubber band..

Take a red hot ice pick or nail to make holes in the bottom of the jug & the
lid of the pill bottle. Slide a small twistem or string through both holes
in the lid, so the middle of the string is inside the cap, & both ends come
out the top. Guide the strings each through 1 hole in the inside of the
bottom of the bottle. Now, both will  be sticking out the outside of the
bottom of the jug. Fasten them together, to anchor the pill bottle lid
securely to the bottom of the jug.

Now, take the red hot ice pick or nail, & make a series of randem holes all
over the sides of the pill bottle. ( the hot pick or nail. slides
effortlessly through the plastic of the bottles. Drilling or hammering would
more likely shatter or tear the plastic)

Put some bettle bait/attractant in the pill bottle & screw/fasten securely
to the lid. Hang the whole assembly in a tree/whatever, about 10 feet away
from the plants you are trying to protect. Remember to collect & empty the
bags ( you can re-attach & reuse them again & again.)

The bugs are not dead, so when you empty the bage, you will have to
kill/disposse of the bugs. I found it easier to put about 1/2 to 1 cup of
sevin solution, so the bugs were dead when I went to dispose of them.

To hang the "lantern", I used the hot pick, again to make holes in the
bottom of the jug (now the top of the lantern). for securing a hanger.
----- Original Message -----
From: Marge Talt <mtalt@clark.net>
To: <perennials@mallorn.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2001 2:23 AM
Subject: Re: Astilbe again


> ----------
> > From: gayle@mail.maine.rr.com
> > ..mine too, those pesky little devils!  What's the best treatment?
> I know milky spore will get rid of them early in their life cycle -
> what can I do to stop them munching now?
> >
> >
> > Gayle
> >
> > p.s.  If you deadhead astilbes will they reflower?
>
> Well, I don't have many of them or very often, but when they do hit,
> I go out and squash them...very satisfactory; leaving the corpses as
> a warning to others.  If you can't stand the idea of doing that, take
> a pot or jar with some soapy water out with you and drop them
> in..they will drown and die and can be dumped on the compost heap to
> feed it.
>
> I have not experienced reflowering on Astilbe; maybe others have.  I
> don't deadhead, but the when the deer munch off the heads full of
> buds  I don't get more.
>
> BTW, the much maligned starling is a past master at finding and
> eating Japanese beetle grubs.  When you see a herd of them marching
> over a grassy area, that's what they are doing, hunting beetle grubs.
>  So, the next time you feel like exterminating these birds, if you
> have a lot of problems with this beetle, think again;-)
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@clark.net
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