Question:
I have a six-foot-high Meyer lemon tree that is a wonderful producer. However, some bug or animal has skinned the lemons despite remaining attached to the tree. Seeing a lemon with some or no white pith exposed to the air is bizarre. Have you ever heard of such a thing happening before?Answer:
- Yes, I have heard of it. It's becoming more and more of an issue for gardeners as it's happening to citrus, tomatoes, and other edibles.
- It's a problem in that area where it's dry, and water sources are limited.
- Now, it's improbable that a bug would cause this problem. Their mouthparts are not large enough to do this type of damage. Also, it would take an army of insects to skin a lemon so that you would see signs of their activity.
- A rodent or larger animal that feeds at night is likely the culprit. Raccoons, possums, sometimes squirrels, or roof rats are the primary suspects, and roof rats would be my guess.
- A roof rat is dark brown to black and measures thirteen to eighteen inches long, including the tail. They weigh five to nine ounces, are slender, have large ears, and are nearly hairless.
- Although they will nest in structures, we find outdoor nests in dense, thick, shrubby ground covers such as Cotoneasters, Junipers, Ceanothus, and Ivy.
- Roof rats are omnivorious. They feed on fresh fruit, plant material, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and tree bark. They can be problematic with Birdseed in feeders and stored in bags along with dog and cat food.
- They love to eat citrus and tomatoes because they serve as food and water sources. Hence, they visit vegetable gardens often during the summer. I'd look along the ground for black, long, cylindrical droppings. Controlling the problem outdoors is easier said than done.
- Your best options are trapping and habitat modification. Climbing vines or hedges on fences or buildings should be thinned, as should overhanging tree limbs. Again this is easier said than done because they are so mobile and move effortlessly from yard to yard. I wouldn't use poison baits because of the threat to domestic animals.
- However, Rat X in enclosed bait houses is an excellent solution. Rat X is a behavior modification product made from corn gluten.
- It causes the rats to stop drinking water and die from dehydration. Traps like on-the-fence runners should be placed off the ground, as they will likely catch them there. Overall, your success rate will be low.
- Fortunately, they should leave your lemon alone once the rainy season starts.
Question:
I have wood scraps and would like to make some planter boxes. Is there any type of wood not good for this purpose? Also, can I use Linseed Oil as a preservative?Answer:
- Redwood and cedar are the best material to use as planters as they don't deteriorate quickly, while pine is the poorest. Linseed Oil is okay as a preservative.