GrubEx / Milky Spore

16 years ago

We are in a 20 year old colonial, this is out first summer and fall here. There were two apples trees. I mananged to get one down. The other is now filled with Japanese Beetles. They tree will be removed over the next few weeks. My question is, what do I do about the beetles. Do I just put GRUBEx down as a preventative meausre? I am told Milky Spore is a better product but takes 3 -5 years to spread and must be put down with a teaspoon....? Do I just wait and see if my lawn starts to succumb to grubs?

WHAT SHOULD I DO...if anything?

THANKS!

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Comments (4)

billhill
16 years ago
Do Nothing. I know this is the lawn forum and not the Organic forum and there is more acceptance of pesticide products here. But, I donÂt think itÂs too good to put down insect killer on a hunch that you may have a grub problem in the future. I know of course that Japanese beetles are nasty and undesirable as are their larva in the soil. A healthy turf and soil can support quite a few grubs along with millions of other bugs and microbes and remain very healthy. What you should do (Here comes my opinion) is everything possible to strengthen the health of your soil and lawn. Consider organics in your lawn maintenance program. A healthy soil and lawn doesnÂt need that stuff. Beneficial nematodes are another organic method of grub control.
joe_in_maine
16 years ago
Japanese Beatles love a healthy organic lawn. If it were me, I would take care of them before the females lay their eggs by applying Sevin to the existing tree. They may be too far along and in that case you could apply Sevin to the lawn as well. Remember, you will be protecting your perennial plants as well as your lawn.
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Milky Spore Disease, "Bacillus popilleae" is a passive method of grub control because the spores do not seek out the grubs, the grubs must ingest the spores as they search for food. Since this is most effective when the grubs are newly hatched the time to apply the spores is just before they hatch in August, or apply the spores sometime in July to give the carrier time to move the spores into the soil where the grubs will be eating plant roots or other soil organic matter. Unless one were to either ingest or inhale fairly large quantities of the Milky Spore Disease there has not been found to be any detrimental affect on humans from this bacterium. However, at this time parasitic nematodes may be a better control since the grubs could well be beyond the growth stage that Milky Spore Disease will do them harm.
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Yes, I did my research and I am very eco-friendly with my lawn. Milky Spores are very time consuming to apply, as you know, however 25 years of safe grub prevention was appealing to me with 4 kids, a dog, garden and well water. My neighbor thought I was crazy as he watched me apply the powder.......which took a good part of my weekend. And years later he was the one to point out seeing the constant stream of Japanese Beetles emerge from various parts of my lawn like swarms of bees. At the time I didn't think much of it until the skunk holes and dead turf showed up. I gave it time thinking the directions said the bacteria grows and spreads within the larvae. The grubs were found throughout the entire lawn but 1 area of approx. 1/4 acre was infested. We are located in central PA. But I would think this would not matter as the bacteria is supposed to spread with grub presence, correct? I am NOT a supporter of chemical containing grub killers however I felt I had no choice at the moment. Within a short period of time, problem solved. (And my original post that was deleted was posted back in 2009)
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OK. Personally, I would rather have no lawn, no roses AND no flowers than use things like Grubex and other grub killers, which are TERRIBLE for pets, birds animals & children, water quality and persist in the soil and migrate to others' lawns and air, giving people who don't want those poisons no choice just like second hand smoke except pesticides, much worse. Whoever asked about beneficial nemotodes, they won't survive if you've used Grub-Ex. Milky spore will survive that crap though. I was inundated by Japanese beetles about 4 years ago. First I treated with Milky Spore, next beneficial nematodes (timed it before 3 days of rain, they die if the dry, but they work quickly. I also set some preying mantis babies loose. Last year really only enough Japanese beetles that I could crush them with my fingers and this year nothing. Please, Plaase look at your lawn and love the dandelions and the clover and the natural lawn. Why are people so obsessed with working all summer to get a lawn that looks like a boring green rug. Grow some wildflowers. Love your children and your neighbors' health rather than your boring lawn. Do some research and look at labels before you buy weed killers and pesticides and don't believe the things that Tru-Green (formerly ChemLawn) tells you. The guys that come to treat your lawn have a few weeks training and their bosses are guys with high school educations brainwashed by chemical companies. Think about why you think it is so important to have the "perfect" lawn. Is it because your friends and family won't like you if it isn't perfect. What matters? Here is a link that might be useful: Poison in the Grass
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There shouldn't be any issues of applying both. Milky spore takes years to build up in the soil (through infecting grubs which then become spore factories) ... and then nematodes look like they are a lot of $$$ for spot treatment areas. I applied milky spore 3 years back after having moles for two years. They haven't returned... but at the same time I had moles come and go from my front yard too without treatment. So who knows. What you could do is go for the milkyspore... applied in late summer into fall. And then just set traps through this whole year.
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billhill
16 years ago
SOOOoooo, what we have here is conflicting advice. ThatÂs the beauty of internet forums. Seven is a very powerful pesticide. It will kill some of the Japanese Beatles, others will take their place. It will kill soil insects that it comes in contact with, and it will kill many beneficial organism in the soil. A sterile soil is not good. Andrelaplume, you may have to do a little more research. Hopefully more members here will chime in with their views.
greatlakesmower
16 years ago
Milky spore would be my suggestion, especially if you want a preventive measure. Depending on whom you ask, it may not take as long as 3 years to work. If you plan on staying in the property, are you going to consider doing this again in 3 years? If so, just do it now and you will be three years along. From what I read on the GrubEx label, its more of a snapsot killer that lasts a few weeks to a month in the soil. If miss the window, you need to do it again. Not the case with milky spore.
Yes, the whole teaspoon thing is a bit of a pain, but going around re-seeding patches of dead grass, and making sure those patches stay wet through germination, etc. is not real easy either.
Also, Milky spore is a bacteria harmless to humans and pets so if you are trying to build up beneficial organisms through organic methods, this works better than GrubEx.

GrubEx / Milky Spore

Comments (4)

billhill

joe_in_maine

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greatlakesmower

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