Growing Mistletoe

Halloween is over and my local Tesco already have got snowmen in store. I swear to god we celebrate Christmas earlier every year but it did get me thinking. If people are thinking about Christmas this early and have a green thumb maybe growing mistletoe might be something we can think about well in advance (though it will be a long while before your efforts bear fruit)!

Parasitic Nature

First off Mistletoe is a parasitic plant which means it feeds off a host plants nutrients in order to survive. The best hosts to use to grow mistletoe are:

Apple 
Hawthorne
Lime
Poplar
Conifers

Obtaining Seeds

Mistletoe seeds are contained within the berry and are extremely to pick without damaging. Simply squeeze the bottom of the berry until the seed pops out the top. Wash off the sticky coating and you got yourself a seed. Alternatively you can buy from most plant stores especially at this time of year.

Germination

Mistletoe seeds require light for germination however can also sprout in moist seed flats. Use a potting mix with a lot of peat in a flat and store in a temperature over 16 degrees.

Rooting

Some gardeners claim that you have to make a cut in the bark of the host plant, place the seed inside and then pack with moss however many other gardeners claim that the cut is completely unnecessary and further adds stress to the plant which is undue especially as we are introducing a parasitic plant already!

How To Properly Maintain a Chainsaw

The typical procurer of a chainsaw is the “occasional lumberjack”. They need the machine for odd jobs every now and then but ultimately it is not a vital part of day to day proceedings. These users may not have the knowledge or experience to ensure these chainsaws stay running as efficiently as the day they arrived. This article sheds light on some of the maintenance required as well as a list of big Don’ts.

Chain Tension

Check the tension of your cutting chain regularly, checking a new chain more frequently. The chain will stretch with use and require adjustment periodically. A chain that is too tight can bind, overheat and wear out the bar. A chain that is too loose can come off of the bar. Checking the chain tension is not as daunting a task as it sounds and instructions can be found in the chainsaw manual.

Sharpening & Replacing the Chain

Sharpening the chain is an important part of maintaining the saw. When the saw creates sawdust rather than wood chips, produces a burnt wood smell, cuts crooked or requires you to press down hard to cut, it's time to sharpen the chain. However sometimes the chain needs a lot more than just sharpening and this is when it is time to replace the chain before it causes even more problems. Refer to the chainsaw manual for information regarding sharpening the chainsaw.

List of other Maintenance Tasks

• Cleaning the bar and inspecting it for wear and bending.
• Checking that the throttle control and throttle lockout function correctly.
• Checking the chain brake function.
• Verifying that the chain does not rotate when the saw is idling.
• Inspecting the chain catcher.
• Cleaning or replacing the air filter as needed.