any suggestions what to use in the wood lot , not a big fan of chemicals onnsome thing I will be handling but the ants and wasps and bigs are already finding new homes. Wood is stacked off the ground.
As far as bugs in the firewood, it’s not much of a problem for us because we use the front porch as our wood shed for the winter. The wood stays outside until we load it in the stove, and by the time they wake up their only escape route is up thru the chimney. For bugs in the woods, we buy Off! by the jumbo-pack. Don’t forget about it and leave it in the sun though! You might not have any left in that can the next day.
I meant bugs in the firewood , while restacking a stack that fell I noticed something had already been eating on the wood. Saw a few bettles and lots of ants. Doubt they do much damage really but if anyone had an easy deterrent I thought why not try and keep them away. Was thinking maybe some cedar under each stack but not sure if that actually deters anything
Yeah we don’t do anything for those guys. They may munch down a few BTU’s but little do they know I’m just fattening them up. I’m not worried about the tiny amount of BTU’s lost as I can hoard more way faster than they can eat it. When you get it off the ground and it dries out the ants and borers will move on, but carpenter bees and yellow jackets will move in. At least around here. I’m not sure what you’ve got for bugs or snakes out your way but I guess I’d focus on the poisonous ones if any. Otherwise it seems to me like it would be a never ending battle and not a whole lot to gain by fighting it. That’s just my opinion.
Aside from powder post beetles and the occasional carpenter ant strolling across some splits, we’ve never had many issues...this year I’ve noticed some ground bees swarming a certain spot in one stack, but they’ll be asleep come next heating season.
I've heard of others having success with borax or diatomaceous earth, though I can not speak from experience. My firewood never comes inside, so I don't much care what takes up residence, though I will leave an ant nest split out for a few days so the birds can take care of business before I stack that piece.
Unless you're in a really heavy termite area like I am I wouldn't worry too much about it. For the most part they only seem to eat the PT landscape timbers and leave my wood untouched. They only time I have issues with post beetles is when stacked in a shady area and even top covered the wood can stay damp. They seem to get in the random crotches or bowed splits with bark down- it probably helps to hold water
Bugs and ants have never been a problem once the wood is split and stacked. But if you don't split and stack, for sure then they can and will take up residence. So to me, the big key is to get it split and stacked then forget about it until it is time to burn.
Yeah I have them split and stacked and off the ground. I am probably (obviously) making a bigger deal that I should. I will keep and eye and if notice anything doing any significant damage address it then.
I don't care about the grubs, beetles and what ever. The only thing I care about is the the big black Carpenter Ants, being only 20 to 30 feet from the 120 yr old farmhouse, don't want them relocating, and they have. I zap em when I split. I keep a can of ant spray by the splitter when I'm working. I can usually tell what log they're in, hundreds of them. I spray and dump them on the ground and stomp them so the birds won't eat poisoned ants. Been doing it near 40 years.
Those carpenter ants actually taste like sweet tarts, we used to eat them in scouts when I was a child. Pinch their head off so they don’t bite you first!
The big carpenter ants need wet wood to live in. Once the wood dries out you shouldn't see any more ants. I don't worry about the bugs too much. I will split out parts that have a lot of ants in them and throw it to the side. Safely Get Rid of Carpenter Ants in a Snap | The Healthy Home Economist Nontoxic Bait for Carpenter Ants My one cup of ant bait consisted of the following all of which cost less than $1. Believe it or not, this is all that was needed to get rid of ants quickly and easily. 1/3 cup of powdered white sugar 2/3 cup boric acid (where to find) That’s it!
Never had a problem with bugs in almost 40 years, as BWS states once the wood is cut and stacked with plenty of air movement the bugs find a new home, they tend to like dark moist places, I have split wood that was full of bugs but after drying there was no bugs what so ever.
Coincidence! Ha, I just looked up a post from a few years ago on this. Question guys, we have stray cats here (2 of which I feed & took to vet etc) , I was wondering if they might try to taste it. That said, I was thinking about a tablespoon by each of 2 mounds, wondering if that small amount would not harm them if they do taste it?
