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About the nursery |
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Is there anything I can do about ball moss in my oak trees? Ball moss is a common sight on the Live Oak trees here in Central Texas. Although it is not particulary harmful, most of us consider it unsightly. Until recently our trees here at the nursery were infested with great colonies of it. However, this year we raised a crop of guinea fowl who developed a taste for the seeds and tips of the plant. Even as young birds, they flew up into the branches to feast on their chosen delicacy and pull it from the branches. Now our trees are mostly free of moss, with no chemicals or effort on our part. Customers have asked us if they can rent our birds to help out at their homesteads. Since this isn't likely, we are passing along our observations. In case anyone wants to try raising guinea fowl, offer them ball moss (preferably with seed heads) when they are a few months old. You would need to feed it to them when they are in their pen. Perhaps your birds will develop a taste for the plant and rid your property of bugs as well as the pesky ball moss. |
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