Country Roads

There is no middle ground left. Only the extremes exist. When
you see them you either abhor what they are lying in wait to do in
the dark of night, or, you gather them up and bring them in for
dinner.
Tea Party Protesters? Progressive Democrats? The party of “No”?
The party of “Tax and Spend”?
None of the above. It is the family Gastropoda and you can count
me in the “Extremely Dislike” category. I would wish that they
weren’t — every year and in every part of the garden.
The last thing I could ever do is consume the creatures,
although I certainly wouldn’t dissuade others from doing so,
particularly the Blue Jays who cock their lovely heads and peer
among the flowers to locate a succulent snail. Our chickens fancy
them as well, and, if we had ducks they would, too. Possums are
another great snail and slug catcher according to snail
sources.
The snail’s habit of feasting at night keeps its identity
hidden, much like the earwig, who is just as destructive. These two
pests can introduce mayhem into the life of a young seedling. And,
if the gardener is new to gardening, he/she will get very
discouraged very quickly as the new nursery plants languish or
disappear altogether.
I wonder how many folks that claim to “have a black thumb”
instead of a green one are simply victims of night feeding slugs,
snails and earwigs?
To find out if your garden has a population of gastropods,
simply walk out there in the evening or early morning and identify
in the flashlight beam who is having a late night dinner. Their
silvery trails are also dead giveaways.
If you prefer to find them in the daylight hours, look on the
north facing sides of trees or shrub trunks; hidden on the shadow
side of planting bins; on the under side of broad leafed plants
such as agapanthus, iris, tulip, bergenia. You already know you
have them if the daffodils are shredded. Some of their babies are
sleeping inside the flower’s cup!
Speaking of babies, these suckers have them at a rate of 60
every two weeks. It is imperative that the gardener interrupt the
cycle, unless you are supplying a restaurant with escargot.
Years ago, Dr. and Mrs. Dave McCrystle, told me about red wheat
bran as a snail and slug bait. I write about it every other year
because it gets boring for the reader to see it in my column every
year. Wright’s Feed carries it because it is a horse food. That’s
the beauty of it — you won’t hurt any pet or child by placing
handfuls of it around your garden. The downside is that, since it
is merely a bait, not a poison, you have to collect the little
monsters as they feed, or else you are sustaining their existence.
If you’re squeamish, wear plastic gloves. Pick them up and drop
them into a can of water with a quarter cup of vinegar added.
The other bait that is safe is Sluggo which contains phosphorus,
a chemical which results in the gastropods’ erroneous perception
that their little tummies are full. They keep that full feeling
unto death. The only problem with Sluggo is that it is fairly
expensive and its effectiveness diminishes when it gets wet.
That’s why the red wheat bran is so great. It lasts, is
inexpensive, and, best yet, you will be introduced to a great
Healdsburg family-owned business when you purchase the bran.
Wright’s Feed is located on Mill Street across from the Highway 101
entrance to the north bound lanes.
It is also at Wrights’ Feed that you can purchase a pound of
milo seed to do yourself and a friend a favor. For the favor you
must have an expendable pair of good winter sox. (Another great
Healdsburg, family-owned store is Everywear and Hardwear and they
have fantastic winter sox — guys’ sox at Hardwear and gals’ socks
at Everywear. They are located a couple of doors down or across
from Costeaux Bakery. Fill each sock three-fourths full with the
milo seed and secure the sock opening tightly with a piece of yarn
tied in a knot. Place milo sock in the microwave about one and one
half minute on high. If you want the seed warmer, add another 10
seconds. Take the milo seed sock to bed with you and warm your cold
feet or place around your shoulders at the back of the neck to
relieve a tension-caused headache.
This sock was originally known as a “wheat sock” until Mrs.
Wright, Nancy, and I were searching through the different seeds and
I complained that the wheat had irritating pointy thorn-like ends
that occasionally poked through the sock. We looked at dried corn
as a possible substitute and then realized that the corn would not
behave itself heated multiple times in a microwave. When Nancy came
upon the milo seed, she said, “What about this — it’s a bird seed?”
Ever since, I ONLY use milo.
So, after you’ve placed little piles of red wheat bran near your
near and dear plants, then dutifully returned with your flashlight
and water/vinegar can for the gastropod gathering; treat yourself
to a warm milo sock, resting assuredly that you have begun to
control some of your garden pests. It will be extremely
rewarding.
Renee Kiff weeds and writes at her family farm in Alexander
Valley.