Mite Control question

[Gil]

Hi Everyone:

Does anyone one know how early I could swap out my bottom boards with  screened bottom boards?  I live in central Maryland and we are just starting to get warm days, with daytime high temps forecast to be above 50 for the next 7 days, and lows to be above 32.  I want to get started on mite control as i have noticed several mites outside the entrance on one of the bottom boards.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Gil

[JP]

You could put walnut shavings in your smoker and smoke them now. The fatbeeman is big on this, he says it works. You can get them from woodworkers or cabinet makers. Don says the smoke with the walnut shavings will kill the mites. Sounds like you have a lot of mites, I would do it now.

....JP

[Patrick]

Walnut shavings? Tell me more fuzzy monster. Walnut trees have a substance called Juglone that is in the leaves, roots, and wood of the plant. It uses this to kill out any competition in up to a 5o foot area around the tree. Could this be what is at work here? I have two walnut trees, so I am interested in this possibility.
Cheers,
Patrick

[rdy-b]

Walnut shavings? Tell me more fuzzy monster. Walnut trees have a substance called Juglone that is in the leaves, roots, and wood of the plant. It uses this to kill out any competition in up to a 5o foot area around the tree. Could this be what is at work here? I have two walnut trees, so I am interested in this possibility.
Cheers,
Patrick

Black walnut and allelopathy

Though grown primarily for its wood and nuts, black walnuts are often found growing on landscape sites where they serve primarily as shade trees. When certain other landscape plants are planted near or under this shade tree they tend to yellow, wilt, and die. This decline occurs because the walnut tree produces a non-toxic, colorless, chemical called hydrojuglone. Hydrojuglone is found in leaves, stems, fruit hulls, inner bark and roots. When exposed to air or soil compounds, hydrojuglone is oxidized into the allelochemical juglone, which is highly toxic.

Several related trees such as English walnut, hickories and pecan also produce juglone, but in smaller amounts compared to black walnut. Juglone is one of many plant-produced chemicals that can harm other plants in a process known as allelopathy. (Additional common landscape trees with allelopathic properties: sugar maple, tree-of-heaven, hackberries, southern waxmyrtle, American sycamore, cottonwood, black cherry, red oak, black locust, sassafrass, and American elm.)   8-) RDY-B                   

[JP]

Shavings in the smoker from the black walnut is what Don says does the trick.

....JP

[Hayesbo]

WooHoo.  I have a couple of black walnut trees and A dad who loves turning the stuff. I can't wait to try this. Probably will do it next weekend.

Thanks,  Steve

[DayValleyDahlias]

Black Walnut is also used as an antihelminthic ( killer of worms /parasites in mammals ).
We have a huge black walnut on the property...may I use the leaves or must I use wood shaving?

[heaflaw]

What about pieces of bark or dried hulls? 

[JP]

What about pieces of bark or dried hulls? 

Don is usually in ventrillo on Saturday nights and I believe most Wednesdays. You can ask him there or pm him. I can't answer that question about the bark or the hulls, will have to ask Don.

....JP

[Gil]

Thank you JP:

I will try your suggestion.

Gil

[Patrick]

Hi,
Any follow up on bark, shells, or leaves? I have plenty of those.

Cheers,
Patrick


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