Grub in berry patch
catfishhoward
2 years ago
When I was planting my blackberries, raspberries and fruit trees in February I found at least 1 grub in each hole I dug. I just spread some leaf mulch around my raspberries and muscadines today and in the last bucket I put down I found about 50 grubs in some wet mulch. Now I wondering how many I didn’t see or will they be more attracted to the mulch I just put around my berries?
Should I be worried? Should I put down some Scott's GrubEx, milky spores or beneficial nematodes?
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
Related Discussions
Planning a Berry patch
Comments (1)Hi greenbean08 A couple of things come to mind. As for the strawberries, chipmunks ate all of my 100+ strawberries this year. Next year, IÂm considering building a hardware cloth box that even goes underneath the plants so there is no chance the chipmunks, birds, or anything else can get in. Perhaps you might want to do the same if you have problems with chipmunks or something else? As for the raspberry beds, 2' wide, 6'-8' sounds about like what I have, and that seems to work fine. Using the lawnmower to keep them in-bounds is a good thing the only issue you may have is with the distance between the rows of 2-3 raspberries can tunnel a very long way underground, and so with that small of a distance, pretty soon youÂll have co-mingling varieties. YouÂll want to read up on either spacing them out further, or using a very very deep root barrier to prevent their spread. As for yields, I donÂt really know how many raspberries I produce in a season itÂs hard to say, because the girls and I go out an eat them fresh each day. I have 10 different varieties (so as to lengthen my harvest) of beds approximately that size, and we could still eat quite a few more (because they are never ripe at the same time). Next year, IÂll be planting at least 20-30 more bare root plants. As for the plants, IÂd recommend checking out www.NourseFarms.com, though they are a little bit far away for you. As far as quantity, I think my best yields come from my blackberries. It took 3 years to get them fully producing, but I feel my 2 plants produced over 600 berries this season. IÂm going to plant some more next season, but a different variety which will be harvested at a different time. Otherwise, it would be too many to eat fresh. As for the black raspberries, these are the thorniest of the bunch and some times I wonder if they are worth it over the reds/yellows. IÂd concentrate more on the reds/yellows/and blackberries first. Good luck! -Glenn...See MoreCurl grubs in my herb patch
Comments (5)I have just noticed today a couple of similar questions on the forum in relation to the great Curl Grub conundrum (which I probably should have read before I posted the above) but after looking through these and calling a couple of nurseries here is what I have found out: - there are a couple of products available to kill curl grub (granulated and hose on); - allegedly they only kill a narrow range of 'grub' like species; and - the active ingredient is not taken up by plants. Until now, the strongest pesticide I have used was pyrethrin but under severe duress (my herb patch was suffering badly) I ended up using Searles Lawn Grub killer. I will keep you posted on how it works. Cheers...See MoreIs this attachment a sign of Grubs or Brown Patch?
Comments (4)My memory is telling me where I lost all the grass in the Drive strips could have been due to using "Round-Up" mixed strong. I mix it a little stronger to get the job done in hard to control areas. Areas that are not flat, I stopped due to erosion. I have areas that are sterile from using Round-Up and I'll treat only runners trying to cross in those areas. A friend said he had some to travel 2' and had to dig a trench to try and stop it. With that section being 2' trapped in concrete, sprayed from both sides, and catching water off the house next door hours after I sprayed. This means the complete strip probably got a shot of Round-Up. Knowing the danger of spreading, I try to let it wick out with low pressure vs spraying. The :30 minute Cut and 1.5 hr to edge is what led me to Round-Up with cutting just runners crossing or leaving the treaded areas. I might clean and just add some Bermuda seeds to the strip that has worked me for years... I work on too much in my sleep!!!...See Moremulching for berry patch?
Comments (5)One reason to mulch around strawberries in particular is to keep dirt off the fruit. Large scale commercial operations have a history of using black plastic. But you probably won't want to use that in this situation, if it were me I might use wood chips. Maybe only about an inch deep, so it doesn't end up burying the crowns of the strawberry plants. When you replace the planting later - strawberry plantings may often deteriorate after a few years - you'll probably have some mulch left you have to rake to the side. But the effectiveness of it as a mulch is probably worth this bother. For additional information about home fruit growing look for the web pages of the USDA Cooperative Extension Service division serving your state. There may also be a branch office nearby, with printed materials available. Extension tends to have a particular emphasis on food production and use....See More
catfishhoward
2 years agocatfishhoward
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
2 years ago
Related Stories
CONTAINER GARDENSPatio-Perfect Berry Bushes Like You’ve Never Seen
Small enough for pots but offering abundant fruit, these remarkable bred berries are a boon for gardeners short on space
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESInvite Cellophane Bees to Your Garden by Providing Patches of Bare Soil
Look for cellophane bees (Colletes) pollinating flowering trees and shrubs in U.S. gardens this spring
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESHow to Fix Bare and Yellow Lawn Spots
Restore your turf’s good looks by reseeding unsightly patches
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESBackyard Birds: Healthy Home Habitats for Northern Flickers
These colorful woodpeckers found across the U.S. and Canada love berries, seeds and ants and often nest in deep burrows in trees
Full Story
EDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops
This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESHow to Bring the Joy of Bluebirds to Your Garden
Attract these beautiful songbirds with nesting habitat and food sources, including berry-producing trees and shrubs
Full Story
FARM YOUR YARDHouzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens
We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSHouzz Call: Show Us Your Farmhouse!
Bring on the chickens and vegetable patches. If your home speaks country, it might appear in a featured ideabook
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: Elegant Updates for a 1928 Bungalow
Classic, clean furnishings and creamy hues bring charm and ease to a Texas couple's home
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGN12 Ideas From Stunning Fall Gardens
From highlighting dramatic foliage to showcasing luminous grasses, here’s how to make the most of your garden this season
Full Story
Fori