How do I use milky spore in landscaping?
HU-990107018
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (6)
HU-990107018
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Milky spore
Comments (5)squarefooterg, MSD may take 1 year to become resident in the soil but what that means is the spores have been ingested by the grubs, grown in the grubs, killed the grubs, and are now spores again and are there in the soil. That 1 year has nothing to do with whether or not the spores you apply this year will kill grubs this year, just that after this year you will have a larger population of the disease spores in your soil than is normal. Since the Bacillus popilliae bacterium are very common and present in very low numbers you probably have some in your soil now, just in populations too low to be effective as a grub control....See MoreHas anyone used Milky Spore successfully?
Comments (11)H Sandy, Thank you for the link. I have 3/4 acre and I had planned on treating a portion of my neighbor's property. They both have much larger properties than mine. There's a large field across the road from me where hay is grown. I do have a fairly large population of JB's most years and I grow a number of fruit trees which they commonly enjoy. I called everyone locally I could think of...ag agent, garden centers, Southern States...I got different answers from everyone. Someone says, "depends on your soil." And, it'll only killed 18%...amybe. Or "they'll still fly in from 2 miles away." The guy from the local Southern States told me he used it and it worked great for him. When I asked when he applied it, he said, "3 months ago." IIIEEE! So...IF I bought a few traps and set them 200' into the empty field across the road...and I monitored them carefully, emptying etc... Would it reduce my population of JB's in years to come? My small orchard is in one corner of my rectangular lot, approx. 125' x 225' and borders the road. I thought of treating the area within a 150'-200' radius of my orchard and...I'd also treat my entire lot. I realize it won't elimate the JB's entirely but if it made a good dent, I'd be happy. Thank you, Peggy...See MoreCan I buy Milky Spore at HD? Lowes?
Comments (8)I agree that too many chemicals can affect the soil in the lawn adversely. I recommend spreading compost on your lawn and feeding it in the fall with a lawn fertilizer. Milky spore has worked for me but it does take 3-4 years to become effective. You can use corn gluten meal in the spring as a pre-emergent to prevent weeds from sprouting. I have found that HD and Loew's are deficient in many garden products that I use i.e., fish emulsion fertilizer, compost (not composted manure), corn gluten meal, cow and chicken manures and milky spore. Luckily, I live in Lancaster County and we have lots of local garden stores that stock these items....See MoreMethod for Watering Down Milky Spore
Comments (5)The only think I would add Keri is if you in a suburban area with close neighbor yards the benefits will be marginal. Unless you could treat the neighbors yards as well. If you have acreage, isolated from nearby yards as I am, then it is great stuff. Application, if it can't be done in early spring when the grubs become the most active, then mid Sept. after most all the eggs are laid and the soil temps have cooled a bit works well for me. In your zone I can't say how late the beetles are active but would guess they hang around a little longer there and late Sept. might be better than August. But the main issue is to avoid overly hot soil temps which can kill the spores and to get it down before the ground freezes. So if your rains will be increasing and the mowing will be reduced in mid to late Sept. that would be the ideal application time IMO. Most lawn services tend to mow long IME rather than buzz cut the lawn. That's why I say mowing has little effect. But if your lawn service tends to buzz cut just ask them to cut long the week you put it down. Dave...See MoreHU-990107018
4 years agol pinkmountain
4 years ago
Related Stories
LANDSCAPE DESIGN10 Ways to Make Your Landscape More Environmentally Friendly
From creating wildlife highways to planting pretty pollinators, there are lots of simple ways to be green in the garden
Full StorySAVING WATERXeriscape Gardens: How to Get a Beautiful Landscape With Less Water
Conserve water and make gardening much easier with the xeriscape approach’s 7 principles
Full StoryPETS6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together
Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian
Full StoryLIGHTINGWildlife-Sensitive Ways to Light a Coastal Landscape
Reduce harm to land and sea creatures by choosing the right light sources and placing them thoughtfully
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNOutdoor Lighting to Make Your Home and Landscape Glow
Let your home be a beacon at night with exterior lights for pathways, pools, trees and, of course, the front door
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN13 Outdoor Lighting Tips for a Safe and Inviting Landscape
Four lighting experts share the secrets to getting your yard’s nighttime lighting right
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHow to Make a Pond
You can make an outdoor fish paradise of your own, for less than you might think. But you'll need this expert design wisdom
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPING9 Outdoor Lighting Schemes That Get Universal Design Right
Boost safety and a feeling of welcome with exterior lighting that offers visual cues and clearly defines paths
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Create a Zen-Inspired Garden
You can get the peaceful feeling of a Japanese Zen garden in your backyard by embracing these principles
Full StoryGOLD FOLIAGEGreat Design Plant: Milk Bush
With a rubbery texture and cartoon-like branches, this succulent brings an unusual, exotic energy to landscapes and container gardens
Full Story
l pinkmountain