Mothballs

Love2Troll · June 4, 2006

All I want to know is if they are toxic and/or can contaminate soil.

They keep squirrels from rooting though my seedling trays (placed along sides) and want to know if can safely use in my containers in the gardening area. Last fall for the 1st time in years I didn't bring my containers indoors. Squirrels planted countless acorns in them and now want them back.

jt

**coronabarb** · June 4, 2006

I don't think I'd want mothballs in my soil...maybe you could put the mothballs in small containers and put those containers in your tomato pots.

Worth1 · June 4, 2006

Naphthalene and/or Paradichlorobenzene.
Not me, (Look that stuff up!)

Worth

Love2Troll · June 4, 2006

Quote:

...mothballs in small containers...

coronabarb,

Yes, great idea! I have countless smallish med vials that I could drill a couple holes in the sides near the cap and embed just far enough into the soil that rain wouldn't dislodge

Thanks!

jt

Love2Troll · June 6, 2006

Had honestly not realized what nasty stuff mothballs are. And is all on the label! Effective at repelling squirrels though.

Pill vials, mothballs and bamboo stakes:

I don't think can contaminate soil mix this way, but am having second thoughts abt using. No pesticides, fungicides etc in my garden.

jt

ZBQ · June 7, 2006

Will this method repel deer?

MsCowpea · June 7, 2006

Very ingenious--hope it works for you.

boonies · June 11, 2006

The main active ingredient in Snake-A-Way is napthalene, but even that product advises you to use it OUTSIDE of any garden area. I wouldn't advise using napthalene near any crop you plan on eating.

JBinKC · June 11, 2006

slightly off topic...Love is that a 4 O'clock you have growing there?

Love2Troll · June 11, 2006

JB,

Nope.... a capsicum. I'm a chile-head.

jt

JBinKC · June 11, 2006

I thought about that after I posted, that it was prolly a pepper, but the leaves just reminded me of one of the 4o'clocks i started and it looked like that when it was little. )

Pretty little plant.

j.t.delaney · May 17, 2012

So, does anybody have experience with this as a deterrent for rabbits and squirrels? We have a shortage of predatory animals in my area, and so the rodents tend to get fat and surly.

June 4, 2006	#1
Love2Troll Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 64079 (Missouri) Posts: 252	Mothballs All I want to know is if they are toxic and/or can contaminate soil. They keep squirrels from rooting though my seedling trays (placed along sides) and want to know if can safely use in my containers in the gardening area. Last fall for the 1st time in years I didn't bring my containers indoors. Squirrels planted countless acorns in them and now want them back. jt

June 4, 2006	#2
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	I don't think I'd want mothballs in my soil...maybe you could put the mothballs in small containers and put those containers in your tomato pots. __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

June 7, 2006	#7
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	Very ingenious--hope it works for you. __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

June 4, 2006	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Naphthalene and/or Paradichlorobenzene. Not me, (Look that stuff up!) Worth

June 6, 2006	#5
Love2Troll Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 64079 (Missouri) Posts: 252	Had honestly not realized what nasty stuff mothballs are. And is all on the label! Effective at repelling squirrels though. Pill vials, mothballs and bamboo stakes: I don't think can contaminate soil mix this way, but am having second thoughts abt using. No pesticides, fungicides etc in my garden. jt

June 7, 2006	#6
ZBQ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 170	Will this method repel deer?

June 11, 2006	#8
boonies Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Massachusetts 6a/b Posts: 29	The main active ingredient in Snake-A-Way is napthalene, but even that product advises you to use it OUTSIDE of any garden area. I wouldn't advise using napthalene near any crop you plan on eating.

June 11, 2006	#9
JBinKC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 174	slightly off topic...Love is that a 4 O'clock you have growing there?

May 17, 2012	#12
j.t.delaney Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 18	So, does anybody have experience with this as a deterrent for rabbits and squirrels? We have a shortage of predatory animals in my area, and so the rodents tend to get fat and surly.