Henrys Handy Hint Number 2

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mkhenry

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« on: May 15, 2007, 23:59 »
Water butts can and do attract midges and some mosquitoes.To avoid this happening float some Olive Oil on the top.Just enough to cover the surface with a very thin coating.After a week or two skim it off and replace with fresh Oil.It may look a mess but it will not affect the water quality and I guarantee it will stop them from laying any eggs...........Before you treat your water butt, remove anything floating on the top. :D
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Bagpuss

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Re: Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2007, 07:13 »
Quote from: "mkhenry"
Before you treat your water butt, remove anything floating on the top. :D


This may be an idiots question, but how, why, what do you treat a water butt with.  We have just got some to collect water for the plants and to top up the pond and were just going to stick them under the guttering on the shed and house.  Should we be doing something to them first?
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mkhenry

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2007, 14:36 »
Bagpuss Not a silly question at all.If you have a water butt with a lid from which you draw off water from a tap in the bottom,then midges will lay eggs if they can gain access.They will breed in their hundreds if not thousands and become a nuisance when they start to bite.My tip is to help avoid this.If you have a tight well sealed lid that will also stop them.Most butts are just not that tight.Normally a water butt only requires that you start off with a clean interiour and that you draw off the water regularly to stop it becoming stagnant.Other than that no problems.

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Bagpuss

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2007, 17:06 »
Thanks, that's really helpful.

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Trillium

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2007, 00:24 »
I've just used the cheapest veg oil I can find rather than the pricier olive oil. I find it does the same job.  :wink:

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flowerlady

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2007, 14:27 »
When I went to visit my sis-in-law she had large water butt in her field which had no lid  ... but it did have gold fish in it!!

So long as you don't let it dry out :shock:  they would eat all the larvae  :D
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WG.

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2007, 14:45 »
I LIKE that idea

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liz from the fizz

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2007, 15:39 »
Could i use sticklebacks  instead of the goldfish?
If you cant be a good example then you must  be a horrrible warning........


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Ice

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2007, 16:58 »
Oooh butts again.  That's my specialist subject. :wink:
Cheese makes everything better.

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mkhenry

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2007, 18:02 »
Quote from: "Trillium"
I've just used the cheapest veg oil I can find rather than the pricier olive oil. I find it does the same job.  :wink:


The only reason for using Olive oil instead of the cheaper Oils is that Olive Oil will not separate allowing minute particles to sink down into the water below.It also lasts longer without going rancid.Otherwise any oil does form a barrior and thats what its all about.

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Trillium

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2007, 18:31 »
I suspect that my water just doesn't last that long in the barrel for the oil to go rancid.

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mkhenry

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2007, 18:43 »
Quote from: "Trillium"
I suspect that my water just doesn't last that long in the barrel for the oil to go rancid.

The sign of a good gardener Trillium. :lol:

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flowerlady

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #12 on: May 19, 2007, 10:43 »
Looking forward to handy tip no 3 mkhenry !!  :wink:  :D

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noshed

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #13 on: May 22, 2007, 21:43 »
Bob Flowerdew says he uses goldfish
Self-sufficient in rasberries and bindweed. Slug pellets can be handy.

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Welsh Girls Allotment

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Henrys Handy Hint Number 2
« Reply #14 on: May 23, 2007, 21:13 »
Quote from: "flowerlady"
When I went to visit my sis-in-law she had large water butt in her field which had no lid  ... but it did have gold fish in it!!

So long as you don't let it dry out :shock:  they would eat all the larvae  :D


that's what I intend to do  :lol:



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