Garden Pests, House Plants

Fungus Gnats

Been getting questions on fungus gnats which are small fly-like insects that may be noticed flying around houseplants. They are commonly associated with over-watered houseplants or those grown in poorly drained potting mixes. If a houseplant pot is harboring fungus gnats, treat the soil with insecticidal soap. Another management approach is to cut back on water so the soil dries out between watering. Any larva present in the soil will dry out and lack of water will reduce fungal growth, reducing the food supply for adult fungus gnats. A third option is a combination of letting the soil dry between watering and then watering with a solution of water and insecticidal soap. Transplant the houseplants early this spring in a potting medium (do not use garden soil).

fungus gnats on a houseplant
Gardening & Landscape, Rural life

Types of Bird Feeders

1. Hopper

If I were only able to have one bird feeder in my yard, then I would choose a hopper style. Hoppers are perfect for holding a general mix of bird food that appeals to a wide variety of species. If you were starting to create a bird feeding station, a hopper works well as a centerpiece that you can build other feeders around.

 Hopper feeders are characterized by a seed chamber that continually dispenses food at the bottom as birds eat, along with a functioning roof to prevent water from ruining your seed. Lastly, this feeder style usually provides some sort of ledge on both sides for birds to perch upon, although this is not a requirement as some hoppers have perch bars instead of a shelf.

 2. Tray / Platform Feeders

For a long time, I never included tray feeders in my backyard. I shoved my nose up at them and thought they were too basic. I mean, just pouring some food onto a simple tray? Humans have been to the moon, and this is the best way we have found to feed birds?

Well, I stand corrected. Now I love having tray feeders all over the place, and they are one of the most popular feeders in my yard. They tend to appeal to a WIDE variety of species. Many birds, like Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays, enjoy having lots of space to move around as they eat.

3. Tube Feeders

Tube feeders are what many people picture when they think of feeding birds. As the name suggests, these types of feeders look like a long tube, but with feeding ports and perches spaced out on the tube which allow the birds to eat. Food and seed are filled from the top and slowly lower as it’s consumed through the ports.

Tubes come in all sizes, from very short to extremely long (I have a tube feeder that is 32 inches long and holds 4 lbs. of food!).  The material can be metal or clear plastic, and there can be two feeding ports or twelve.

Tube feeders attract many types of birds, except for larger birds. Because of their size, birds like Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and Mourning Doves have a hard time landing on the small perches of many tube feeders. 

By adding a tray to the bottom, you provide a place for ALL birds to eat. In a way, you are combining a tube feeder with a tray feeder. The attached tray offers a landing spot for larger birds.

 4. Niger/Thistle Feeders

Niger feeders look very similar to tube feeders, and I almost lumped the two together under one category. In the end, I decided against it because there is one thing that is very different between the two types.

Niger feeders are made only to dispense niger seed.

Because it’s so small, niger seed can fit through openings that other foods can’t, which is why niger bird feeders were developed. Niger feeders are tube-shaped feeders, but the food ports are tiny so that only niger seed can fit through. If you try to put sunflower seeds in a niger feeder, you are going to have some hungry birds!

You may also know niger seed as “thistle,” which it’s sometimes called, even though it has no relation to actual thistle. Niger seed is tiny and black and is popular to use because it’s a favorite food for goldfinches! A few other birds will also eat niger, such as House Finches, chickadees, doves, and House Sparrows.

 5. Suet Feeders

In case you don’t know, suet is the hard fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle and other animals. Birds enjoy eating it because it provides them with healthy fats they need for energy. Suet is especially helpful during cold winter months when insects are not available, which are what most birds eat to obtain their fats naturally.

Woodpeckers are typically the most common birds that appear on suet feeders, but other species also enjoy the healthy fats that suet provides, such as wrens and starlings.

6. Nectar Feeders

The main reason anyone puts up a nectar feeder is simple; they want to attract hummingbirds!

 Watching hummingbirds visit your backyard is pretty cool. These small, colorful birds are full of personality and incredibly unique. It’s no wonder everyone wants more in their garden!

Nectar spoils quickly! You will need to replace it quite often in your feeder, especially during extreme heat.

Make your own homemade nectar by mixing four parts water to one-part table sugar. And don’t use red dye.

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Fruit trees and fruit shrubs, Gardening & Landscape

Mandarins, tangerines, clementine

A mandarin orange is a slightly smaller relative of the standard orange. The tangerine and clementine are varietals of the mandarin, much in the same way gala and fuji are apple varieties.

Mandarins originated in China, hence the name. China is by far the largest grower and consumer in the world, with over 12 million tons harvested each year.

Tangerines arrived in Europe in the 1800’s by way of North Africa, where a large varietal was grown in Morocco. Exported through the port of Tangier, the fruit became known as Tangerine.

The clementine fruit is small and seedless and has become very popular in the US. As it is sterile (no seeds), shoots need to be grafted onto other varietals. This varietal was created by a French missionary in Algeria over 100 years ago. His name was Marie-Clement Rodier.

Nutritionally, all mandarins are similar. For a 50-calorie mandarin, you get 2 grams of fiber, and just over 2 teaspoons worth of sugar. Each mandarin will provide half a day’s worth of vitamin C, as well as multiple other antioxidants.

Compared to oranges, mandarins are easy to peel and separate into individual sections. The clementine, being seedless, are a perfect snack for young children.