Allotments 4 All

Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: GrannieAnnie on April 06, 2008, 11:15:06

Title: Downy damage
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 06, 2008, 11:15:06
Oh dear- we think a downy woodpecker is eating our house!  Heard briefly a woodpecker, but didn't see him but do see some new long holes in the redwood siding, of course way up high in the peak of the roof line which will require quite a ladder.  Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Downy damage
Post by: star on April 06, 2008, 21:10:16
A gun? Only joking of course. We dont get those problems too much over here honey, as our palatial places are tiny compared to the US, And made mostly of bricks and mortar.

I would think the way to go would be possibly a heavy duty mesh attached to the vulnerable parts of your home. Wildlife is beautiful and destructive, do you get problems with wood termites? I would think thats a real worry :(

Hope you find a solution ;)
Title: Re: Downy damage
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 06, 2008, 21:23:57
Quote from: star on April 06, 2008, 21:10:16
A gun? Only joking of course. We dont get those problems too much over here honey, as our palatial places are tiny compared to the US, And made mostly of bricks and mortar.

I would think the way to go would be possibly a heavy duty mesh attached to the vulnerable parts of your home. Wildlife is beautiful and destructive, do you get problems with wood termites? I would think thats a real worry :(

Hope you find a solution ;)
We'd have to enmesh the house as it is all wood. Yes, brick and mortar would be lovely and much more trouble-free. And yes, termites are always a possibility as well as carpenter bees and carpenter ants so we have a quarterly inspection/treatment.
Title: Re: Downy damage
Post by: star on April 06, 2008, 21:28:57
It must cost you a fortune.............I didnt realize there were problems with bees and ants as well. :-\ Mind you we have Mason bees which eat through mortar to nest ::)
Title: Re: Downy damage
Post by: GrannieAnnie on April 11, 2008, 22:45:04
Just one of the joys of home ownership in our area ;D   
Carpenter ants are very large, very militant looking and march determinedly through the house and can eat holes in wood quickly.
Carpenter bees drill a perfect round hole about the size of a dime. No joke: You can hear them chewing.

There are very large scary ground wasps that dig in the turf, make a pile of dirt and help attack carpenter bees. ::)

Hubby climbed up and filled the woodpecker holes today and hung an aluminum disposable pie pan cut into spirals to scare them away.