CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

Moon Flower (Datura ioxia) - Do not eat the seeds or drink tea brewed from the seeds or you risk anticholinergicsigns and symptoms, including dilated pupils, tachycardia, hallucinations and/or urinary retention. Signs andsymptoms last 24 - 48 hours with supportive care and benzodiazepine administration. Ipomoea muricata mightcause hallucinations and cholinergic health effects, e.g., diaphoresis, salivation, lacrimation and/or diarrhea.Mosquito Netting - has been used for years to keep mosquitoes and black flies off people. Solutions, 1-800-342-9988, http://www.solutions.com has a hat made in Canada with a full head covering insect net hidden in aspecial pouch on the bill. Hung over your bed and tucked in all around the mattress will also protect you fromstinging insects, kissing bugs, flies, spiders, ticks, centipedes, mosquitoes and bed bugs (if the mattress is notinfested).Mosquito Repellent - Mosquitoes are very sensitive to certain scents, chamomile and citriodora especially. Bothare easy to grow and both are used in dry flower arrangements. Citriodora is also used in potpourri. To makemosquito repellent, take 1 oz. of green leaves from both plants and boil in 1 gal. water. Strain and place in therefrigerator. Before going outside, splash the mixture liberally over your face and exposed parts of your body(test on a small area first to see if you are sensitive). You will enjoy the fresh, citrus smell but the mosquitoeswill stay far away. Sweet basil also repels mosquitoes. Try Bite Blocker ® made of soybean oil, coconut oil andgeranium oil. Scented geraniums and Noxema will repel mosquitoes. Try Safe Solutions Insect Repellentand see Chapter 42.Moth Crystals - placed in an attic or closet will repel brown recluse spiders and spread along a fence line or intunnels, etc., will keep out snakes, rabbits, skunks, woodchucks and pets - replenish as needed - but rememberif “pest” mammals are repelled by poisonous moth crystals - you and your pets may also be harmed. Mothcrystals or mothball odors can be reduced by first removing them all and then scrubbing every inch of the areawith equal parts of white vinegar or naptha or mineral spirits or lemon juice and rubbing alcohol - repeat asneeded, follow the label directions exactly and air out thoroughly. According to the manufacturer, moth balls areonly to be used a moth deterrent, and it is a violation of federal law to use these (registered) volatile, syntheticpesticide poisons in a manner inconsistent with their package labeling! See Napthalene. We do not use orrecommend these volatile materials that are registered pesticides.Mounded Soil - Mound soil over squash vines you think are infested with squash vine borer to control this pest.Mountain Dew - works great to attract yellowjackets to your trap.Mountain Mint - A natural tick-repellant herb; rub your legs and pets with the leaves in tick season.Mountain Tobacco (Attenuata) - A graceful and ornamental species with white inch long flowers flushed pinkoutside. It is a night blooming annual that grows to 4’ - 5’ with pointed leaves. A very popular tobacco with theNavajo Indians. It is an all purpose plant. You can use it as an ornamental, filler and pesticide base. To makegarden pesticide, mix 1 tsp.powdered dried leaves with 1 tsp. dishwashing detergent into 1 gal. water. Applywith sprayer. Remember nicotine is a deadly poison to people and pets.Mowing - Proper mowing decreases flower and seed production and controls many diseases and pests. Forexample, mowing poison ivy closed to the ground in midsummer, followed by plowing and harrowing and/or bygrazing will control this noxious pest. Mowing can remove over 90% of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon, butremove the clippings and remember the cutworm larvae will survive about half of the time and crawl 75’ or moreto reinfest. Mowing before sunrise catches the peak cutworm activity and can remove 100% of cutworm larvae.Proper mowing also helps destroy ticks.Mulch - Nearly any organic material can be used as mulch. Mulch 3” - 4” deep will safely suppress and/orsmother many weeds, especially when used in combination with a geotextile fabric. Some mulches may beacid or alkaline, causing problems with the soil’s pH. Sawdust will use up nitrogen as it decomposes, so mix insome grass clippings if you use sawdust. The color of plastic mulch can affect plants. Basil developing abovered mulch had better succulence and fresh weight and greater area than basil plants grown above black mulch.When basil is grown above green or yellow mulches, the basil plant develops significantly higher concentrationsof aroma compounds and phenolics than basil plants grown above white or blue mulches. Red mulch produceslarger tomatoes and sweeter, tastier strawberries. Color can and does affect the roots, stems, leaves, seeds,417