Is It To Late To Paint My Natural Gourd's?

[Davlyn]

I just received my 6 pack of natural gourd's yesterday, and I am ready to
hang them right now. I know I need to paint them first, is it to late, if not
what kind of paint should I use and do I need to do anything to the gourd
before painting? It will be hard to get my pine needle's in the gourd's with
out a access door, but I plan to do some work on my gourd's this fall.
Thanks!

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

The most important thing before you paint the gourds is to make sure that they are very dry. You may wish to set them in the driest place in your house for a couple days, like beside some heat, fireplace, hot water heater or something that assures you that they are completely dry.

Another dumb question, but did you clean all of the mold off of the gourds? Paint will not stick to the mold. If you removed all of the mold, then your are ready to paint.

Here is how I do it:
1)Brush on an exterior primer paint, make sure everything is covered real well. The primer paint seals the gourd and its very sticky..Let the primer paint dry real well, probably for 1 day, but on dry days, it may dry in 2 or 3 hours
2)Brush on an exterior coat of paint, you can use nearly any brand, but sometimes sprayon paint doesn't stick real well...

Its not too late, you probably still have 3 to 6 weeks before you may see them

Hope they look good and fill with martins.

[Davlyn]

Hi Emil,
Thank you for that information. I am going to get all the mold off and then I'll let them dry out completely before I prime and paint. Thank you again for all the help and advice you have given me in the past! I guess I've got some more work to do, so I am going to get busy right now.
They will be here before we know it!!!

[Davlyn]

Emil, sorry I forgot to ask what is the best way to clean the mold off of
the gourd? How about clorox are not? Thanks

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Soak the gourds in water for about 10 minutes, then use a steel wire brush to remove it. A paint scraper sometimes works ok. It is a dirty messy job. I hate to do it this way. Some people let it dry and sand some of it off or use an electric wire brush. to clean it better.

I use a pressure washer, it is really easy, I tie an empty milk carton to a stake, place the gourd into the milk carton so it won't roll away, and clean it.

Be sure to let them dry good after you clean them.. If you don't have a pressure washer, this is the worst part of preparing gourds...

[Davlyn]

Emil, just one more question, all that soft stuff on the inside that's peeling
off do you get it all out? What if you can not get it all, will it bother the
martins? Thank's

[eyeamtheman]

A tip I think originated from Linda Reynolds was to make sure there's nothing loose in the neck of the gourd that might fall off later and land in the nest is what I would be mostly on the lookout for. As for loose stuff on the side, whatever easily pulls off is all I ever do to the inside of a natural gourd.
Good Luck!!

[Adam Romain]

If you didn't have a pressure washer, I'm guessing you could take them and your milk crate down to a "brushless" car wash and clean them there with the power sprayer???? Rinse cycle of course! Although, you may get a few strange looks, it might be an easier way....