 plant recommendations
Judy wrote:
>
>
> Razzbar wrote:
>
>>tongaloa <tongaloa@alltel.net> wrote in message
>
> news:<1060452301-sch@news.lava.net>...
>
>>>Razzbar wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>I wonder if there's a plant that repels termites. Or should I say
>>>>a plant that is known to repel termites. I rekon if one was known,
>>>>it'd be seen around every wooden structure. Maybe something for
>>>>them scientists to look into.
>>>>
>>>
>>>They do not like cedar becasue the oil is toxic to them. One reason
>>>it's used for house construction.
>>
>>That's right! Moths don't like it either, which is why it's used
>>for cedar trunks. I wonder if you could plant it around a house
>>and trim it like a hedge, or if it's only the wood itself that
>>does the trick(?)
>
> My dears! You cannot trim a single-trunk tree like a hedge. You'll kill
> it. You also do not want to plant anything as BIG as a cedar that close
> to your house. They do have ROOTS, you know!
still chuckling a day later ...
Also, I don't know whether cedars wold like the climate around here
too much. I'm sure redwoods don't.
> And do not kid yourselves about cedar or redwood being "toxic" to
> termites. It is not their food of choice, but they will certainly eat
> it. They'll eat through concrete and plastic to get to the paper
> wrapping on your old electrical wires!
That's ground termites for all I know.
Cedar may repel them, just like it repels moths, just hang a block into
your closet. I know termites eat redwood because we live in one of these:
> I always thought one of the great features of those great old
> single-wall plantation style cedar or redwood houses is if the termites
> DO go after them, you can at least SEE them and nail the buggers before
> they do too much damage.
and while it has very little termite damage, termites do go into the walls.
I always find is strange how some people prefer double wall and sheet rock
(get that wet once, it is worse than Canec - we do still have Canec ceilings,
still there after 50 years, in spite of the occasional leak.). Real honest
tongue and groove redwood - even if the termites eat some, they will still
prefer your neighbor's plywood, especially the glue.
Tip: and don't buy chip board furniture, they prefer that to redwood walls
too.
Maren
| 
