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Post by Bennetts on Oct 23, 2007 20:58:27 GMT 1
 Remember all the articles about saving water in prep for this years summer drought. About planting plants that would survive in a dust bowl. Well I bought myself a water butt to conserve water. A few times this year I have wanted to sit out during the evenings (on the 6 or 7 dry days) but ended up inside due to the abundance of the mozzies. I put it down to the warm wet weather. Any way I was in the dentists recently for a check up, and was reading through an old Gardeners World mag. In one of the letters page there was something about mozzies, water butts and gold fish. Interesting I thought, I wonder? Yes there were loads in there. Putting gold fish in there would be cruel, so any other ideas how to eliminate the mozzies next summer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Post by sweetleaf on Oct 23, 2007 21:05:30 GMT 1
A thin layer of vegetable oil was recommended to me ;D
I agree a goldfish should be in a pond, but if theres no lid on the butt isnt that what it is albeit a strange shape? Many goldfish live their lives in tiny little bowls....... that I think is cruel. The fish eats the larvae of the mosquito, naturally, in the wild so the diet is not cruel either. The only problem I have with putting a fish in the butt is water level, if there is a dry summer you cant top the water up from the mains without risking the fish`s life.
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Post by maggyd on Oct 23, 2007 21:33:58 GMT 1
A thin layer of vegetable oil was recommended to me ;D I agree a goldfish should be in a pond, but if theres no lid on the butt isnt that what it is albeit a strange shape? Many goldfish live their lives in tiny little bowls....... that I think is cruel. The fish eats the larvae of the mosquito, naturally, in the wild so the diet is not cruel either. The only problem I have with putting a fish in the butt is water level, if there is a dry summer you cant top the water up from the mains without risking the fish`s life. Sweety I have a couple of fish in my half barrel that I have planted up with irises and such like it also has a pump and I have to top it up frequently in the summer months it doesnt seem to bother the fish !! my water but has a lid on it Ive never looked inside but its more than likely the mozzies are breeding in still water somewhere in the garden. |
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Post by madonplants on Oct 23, 2007 21:54:28 GMT 1
A thin layer of vegetable oil was recommended to me ;D I agree a goldfish should be in a pond, but if theres no lid on the butt isnt that what it is albeit a strange shape? Many goldfish live their lives in tiny little bowls....... that I think is cruel. The fish eats the larvae of the mosquito, naturally, in the wild so the diet is not cruel either. The only problem I have with putting a fish in the butt is water level, if there is a dry summer you cant top the water up from the mains without risking the fish`s life. Sweety I have a couple of fish in my half barrel that I have planted up with irises and such like it also has a pump and I have to top it up frequently in the summer months it doesnt seem to bother the fish !! my water but has a lid on it Ive never looked inside but its more than likely the mozzies are breeding in still water somewhere in the garden. Do you leave your fish in there over the winter, Maggyd? I have never had a problem with mozzies in water butts, mine have always had close fitting lids. Goldfish would be OK, as long as you stick to the rule of 1cm length of fish to 60sq cm of water surface area. If the water has a risk of freezing then they need to be brought in for the winter. Not my cup of tea, but I know people do use them. Keith |
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Remember all the articles about saving water in prep for this years summer drought. About planting plants that would survive in a dust bowl. Well I bought myself a water butt to conserve water. A few times this year I have wanted to sit out during the evenings (on the 6 or 7 dry days) but ended up inside due to the abundance of the mozzies. I put it down to the warm wet weather.