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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] shadegardens Digest - 26 Jan 1998 to 27 Jan 1998 - Special issue

>Hi, Nancy.  Is there something you treat the wood chips with before you lay
>them out?  I ask because in my area, even a small collection of sticks will
>attract earwigs, pill bugs, and even termites (if left long enough).
>Perhaps it is more of a concern to me because my property is SMALL and the
>paths are right next to the house - there isn't anywhere else for them to
>be.  Then again, if one were to mulch the garden and by doing so, provide a
>haven for earwigs, then one would  have introduced a pest which damages
>certain types of foliage.  Let me know what your secret is.

Sheila

Never occured to me to treat the wood chips. Now, I do treat the house as
many ways as I can to protect against termites. I do want the chips to go
to compost, so feel it is ridiculous to do anything to prevent that.
Termites serve a very useful function as long as they are not chewing on
our houses. Have always found earwigs and/or pillbugs where ever there is
mulch. Have never felt they really hurt plants that are healthy and growing
well. Have bigger and better things to eat holes in foliage. Only once have
I had to limit the amount of wood chips that I was getting. More than 10
dump truck loads blocks my neighbors drive.

Steve,

Thank you for your explanation of chloroplast constants in regard to the
amount of shade as the leaf matures. You do put it back to what I have
always believed --- if it requires sun it is sun loving, if it requires
shade it is shade loving, and if it is adaptable to either condition, it is
shade tolerant. Makes sense to me.....

Nancy
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