Goodbye Skunk
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
When my customers ask me problems with skunks in and around their yard, I will usually reply that skunks are looking for something to eat. That something to eat is grubs in your yard. Then I will recommend a product to kill grubs, such as Grub-X or Triazacide. But right now, in the fall it’s not grub season, and so what do you do if a skunk has decided your home is now his home? This has happened to me.
I remember the first time I saw this skunk skulking across my back deck. Luckily, I saw him before I let my dog out for a stroll. Max has been skunked twice, and I am determined not to let it happen again. I was hoping this skunk stroll was just a one-time thing, not a habit, until I saw him the next night, too. So, my worst fear came true, he was camping out under my deck. So, if this has happened to you, this is my recommendation.
Go to your local hardware store and purchase Skunk Scram. Skunk Scram is a sister product to Cat Scram. It comes in a 6-pound bag and is a small granular repellent. This 6-pound bag will cover up to 3500 square feet. It comes ready to use and requires no mixing. It’s easy to apply to the yard with a rotary spreader set at 60%. But my problem wasn't the yard; it was under my deck. They suggested that I throw a golf-ball-sized amount of Skunk Scram into a bag of cheesecloth under the deck. I have to tell you, my deck is very low to the ground, and I am not about to try and get to where I can throw it under the deck only to look eyeball to stinky skunk tail. No, I can’t move that fast. So, I decided to put it around the open edges of my deck. I also have enough gaps between the deck boards that I poured it down through those gaps. I did not apply at the opening of my deck; I wanted to leave him a way out. Then I poured some around the trees around my deck. Directions on the packaging suggest reapplying in 10 days and then again in 30 days until you don’t see any activity in the area. I have set up an alarm on my phone to remind me when to spread more repellent. Skunk Scram is all-natural. It won’t harm your plants or your pets. It’s a mixture of different oils and dried blood. Products with dried blood are usually so stinky, surprisingly, Skunk Scram didn’t smell bad at all. Not that I would have really cared. All I really smelled was the citronella oil. I haven’t seen the skunk since I started using Scram, but I will keep you posted.
If skunks are not a problem for you but cats are… check out Scram for Cats. I have sold it to customers who have a problem with feral cats. Now, if you have cats, it’s going to repel them, too. But it’s safe.
Both products are on the website and can be shipped to you.
Just a reminder, order “The Best of Johnnie Chuoke, Vol 14” now to get it in time for Christmas. Because the answer to skunks and other pesky pests is in the book.
Now to the email….
Question: I have a bathroom countertop that is all one piece with the sink. They say it’s marble, but it doesn’t look like “real” marble. Do you know what it is and how I can clean it? I just bought this condo, and my previous place was Formica countertops.
Answer: What you have is called “cultured marble”. It’s a man-made marble made from marble dust and resins. It’s an economical answer to having marble, granite, or quartz. It’s great because it comes in so many colors which will match any decor. However, you have to be very careful when you clean the surface. The gel finish that gives it a beautiful shine can be easily damaged by a strong abrasive cleaner. So, use the cleaner invented just for cultured marble: Gel Gloss. It comes in an easy-to-use spray. It will clean and provide protection. Gel Gloss also makes Faucet Brite for fixtures and NoStreek for mirrors. All of the Gel Gloss products will clean and provide a protective coating. Look for it at your local hardware store.