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Grow Your Own Birdhouses

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Bottle gourds (Lagenaria siceraria)
are easy to grow on fences or trellises, and once dried they make an ideal
home for purple martins, swallows, chickadees and wrens. Besides bringing
beauty and interest to your home, these birds will eat thousands of insects
each day.
Although gourds can be grown in hills as you would grow squash and pumpkin,
gourds that are left lying on the ground will flatten on one side and may
be susceptible to rot. If you prefer to grow them in hills, try providing
several inches of hay as a mulch to keep the gourds off the ground. Bottle
gourds will tolerate a light frost, so allow them to dry on the vine as long
as possible.
Once harvested, they will need a cool, dry place to complete the drying process.
They are completely dry when you can hear the seeds rattle inside when you
shake them. This may take several months.
To fashion you birdhouse, drill a hole 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Smaller
holes will accommodate small birds such as wrens, while a larger hole will
allow larger birds such as martins to take up residence. You should also
drill a few tiny holes in the bottom of the gourd for drainage.
Drill two holes in the top, and thread a cord through them. Now your birdhouse
is ready to hang. It will last up to two years untreated, or you can varnish
the gourd for a longer lasting birdhouse.
For more great gardening, birding and outdoor tips, visit our sister site
GardenGuides.com at
http://gardenguides.com |
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