Beneficial Nematodes?
Rusty
7 years ago
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- Rusty thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
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milky spore or beneficial nematode for Japanese beetles
Comments (52)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....See MoreAdding beneficial nematodes to compost tea
Comments (6)Here are the instructions. This still does not answer my question about using compost tea as the "liquid medium" for spraying the nematodes...nor does it address whether it's ok to add the nematodes to the water BEFORE beginning the brewing process. APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: Application for the 10 Million nematodes: Mix with water and spray or sprinkle on the soil along garden, lawn or crop rows or around larger plants. Place the entire sponge of nematodes in a bucket. Pour at least two quarts of water over the sponge and repeatedly squeeze for a few minutes to get the nematodes out of the sponge and into the bucket of water. Discard the sponge and pour the water into a sprayer or water can. At this stage, you should have the amount of nematodes indicated on the bag suspended in about two quarts of water. Add clean water to dilute the suspension and make up the volume that your sprayer requires. You can always add more water for distribution of the nematodes to cover the required square footage. Just add 2, 5, or 10 gallons of water so that you have enough to allow even spread of the nematodes. Keep the soil moist during the first 10 days after application....See Morebeneficial nematodes for grubs and cool weather
Comments (5)Japanese beetles do come from some of the grubs found in soils, as do other members of the scarab beetle family. However, a large number of Japanese beetles in your garden does not necessarily equal a large number of grubs in the soil. If there are large numbers of grubs in the soil timing of controls is essential since some work best when the grubs are fairly young while others might work on older and larger grubs. Applying Milky Spore Disease is best done in late July to early August (before the grubs hatch from the eggs laid) so it is in place when the grubs hatch. Milky Spore Disease is a passive method of control, the grubs must find and ingest the bacterium, which is why some "authorities" consider it to be not very effective. MSD does not immediately kill, but it also does not kill beneficial soil organisms. I find little information about when to apply beneficial nematodes except one reference to temperatures in the 45 to 105 range. Many sources (sellers) also suggest applying them every two weeks, which can get to be very expensive....See MoreBeneficial nematodes
Comments (3)I used the nematodes from Home Depot and from Gardens Alive, even looked under the microscope to see them wriggling around. I've noticed no difference in the grub population since they were applied several years ago, but I did see a couple last season that looked sick (I.e yellow and thin)...unless they were just a different kind of grub....See MoreRusty
7 years agodaninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRusty thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)Rusty
7 years agodaninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRusty thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)cozarth
2 months agodaninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
2 months agolast modified: 2 months ago
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