What Is a Pest?

earthdragon64 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 06:08 PM

A bird that I called a pest this summer was a Corncrake and a couple of his pals. I would never, ever harm one intentionally, but this three were certainly pests.

I was camping at a campsite on Tiree in June, when hubby and I were putting up the tent we heard a gentle "Crex Crex" type call. We were both so pleased to be sharing our campsite with a Corncrake and soon realised there were three around us.

However later that night, just as we were dropping of to sleep, the three of them started, one mere feet from our tent - "CREX CREX CREX CREX"

From about 11pm to 4am, they didn't seem to even stop to breathe, we didn't sleep during that time that night or the following night. Thankfully after 2 nights we moved to a hostel with friends, so were able to get some sleep.

But the biggest reason I called them pests was because even though they were so close, we never even got the slightest glimpse of them, they stayed completely hidden.

Pippa · #12 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 08:48 PM

House flies, wasps,spiders,moths etc etc etc are all evicted from our home but never harmed intentionally.We have far too many snails in our garden but they aren't a problem and a treat for some birds.The trails they leave are a bit of a pain but we hose down every week anyway.

Something is eating my Ivy though and i don't know what ?.It is a pest and when i find out what it is, it will be goner.

Merrow · #13 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 10:53 PM

Japanese knotweed - oh I hate it with a passion; it is growing in our garden and all over round here and no one cares!

ron1863 · #14 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrow

Japanese knotweed - oh I hate it with a passion; it is growing in our garden and all over round here and no one cares!

If it's in your garden keep chopping it down, this will weaken it and it will die out. We had it in ours and I chopped it to ground level and used the mower constantly - it has disappeared.

Elean0r · #15 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrow

Japanese knotweed - oh I hate it with a passion; it is growing in our garden and all over round here and no one cares!

We've been trying to get rid of it from our garden too. We thought we'd won because we didn't see any for about four or five years, but it reared its ugly head again this year, so it's back to the drawing board.

I kill mosquitoes too.

Monkey Orchid · #16 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrow

Japanese knotweed - oh I hate it with a passion; it is growing in our garden and all over round here and no one cares!

The young shoots are edible and apparently have a tart flavour similar to rhubarb. Maybe you could graze it out of your garden!

Digit · #17 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 11:16 AM

I've twice been faced withe damned stuff and I found Ron's method worked, new shoots I simply pulled up and that seemed to stop it spreading.

Roy.

Merrow · #18 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 01:02 PM

My husband tends to pull it up whenever it shoots up, but it's in our next door neighbour's garden too and she does nothing to control it

Sometimes we seem to have it under control but it is always lurking

Might try putting the hens' mobile run over the worst affected patches and seeing if they will help control it...

PMG · #19 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Squirrel

Well at the moment badgers. Unless I'd seen it myself, the amount of damage they are doing in an unfenced part of the garden, I wouldn't have believed it. Digging for grubs and worms I imagine.
Took most of the morning tamping down the turf. Have now 'planted' 10 solar lights to keep them away. Hopefully.

Goodness my husband would go green with envy if he had just read that

We go badger watching and have to travel to do it - he would give his right arm (and leg) to have this particular 'pest problem' and as a gardener by trade he keeps a beautiful lawn but would surrender the lot for just one badger grubbing round ...........

By the way I was tempted to joke that the 10 solars will only help them to see what they are doing but then thought - its not true as they have poor eyesight plus if they are annoying you then I maybe shouldn't be joshing ....

Pauline

Stinky Bob · #20 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrow

Japanese knotweed - oh I hate it with a passion; it is growing in our garden and all over round here and no one cares!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron1863

If it's in your garden keep chopping it down, this will weaken it and it will die out. We had it in ours and I chopped it to ground level and used the mower constantly - it has disappeared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elean0r

We've been trying to get rid of it from our garden too. We thought we'd won because we didn't see any for about four or five years, but it reared its ugly head again this year, so it's back to the drawing board.

What do you all do with the plants once you have chopped it down!