Weather And Pesticide Use In Gardens
Moisture is a conductor for pesticides. It is mixed in concentrates to make a useful spray and it washes pesticides down into plants where secretive insects live. However, it can be dangerous to spray where running streams may carry toxins down to animals and fish and then linger in the water table, poisoning the area permanently.
This is why it is important not to apply pesticides just before rain. Pesticides leach through soil to the water table and downstream bodies of water. They can contaminate entire habitats, rendering them useless for the denizens of the area.
The best time to use a pesticide is when the soil is moderately dry and no rain is expected, on a cloudy day when temperatures are moderate. Never apply pesticide when there is wind to prevent the chemical from drifting to non-target areas.
The Need To Spray Insect Control Throughout The Year
When it comes to lawn insect control, youll need to take into consideration the fact that these insects emerge at different times of the year. In other words, youre likely to be dealing with insect presence at various times throughout spring and summer.
So, knowing exactly when to apply the needed treatment greatly helps in arresting the problem.
In providing you with more background regarding timing, lets consider times of the year having the highest cases of lawn insect presence and the strategies to take.
What Is Spring Pre
Without herbicides, it can be impossible to remove weeds permanently. Even with regular maintenance and lawn mowing, the new weeds pop up and take over the yard.
However, your lawn stands a chance if you can stop them before they emerge. The spring pre-emergent is essential for homeowners who want to get rid of the weeds such as clover, spurge, or crabgrass.
The spring pre-emergent herbicides penetrate the top two inches of the soil and form a protective barrier.
When the springtime comes and the ground heats up, this barrier will prevent the growth of weeds. Essentially, an efficient spring pre-emergent will kill the weeds before they appear above ground.
Don’t Miss: Plug Aerator Rental Lowes
Lawn Insects: How To Control Them
Many different species of creepy-crawly bugs are found in home gardens in Mississippi. These incorporate creepy crawlies such as chinch bugs and white grubs that specifically assault and harm turf grass, bugs such as slugs.
The millipedes can end up a nuisance when they happen in tall numbers, and bugs such as fire ants, wasps, and ticks that straightforwardly attack the mortgage holder and others utilizing the garden.
CONTROL: The user is cautioned to read and take after all bearings and precautions given on the name of the pesticide detailing that will be used. Insecticides are sold beneath different exchange names by plant supply houses and equipment, seed, and medicate stores. Granules are ready-made definitions that are utilized dry. Apply them with a garden fertilizer spreader.
Wettable powders and other details are utilized in splashes. Blend the purchased item with water and apply with a plant sort compressed discuss sprayer or a rucksack sprayer.
The amount of water to use depends on the sort of sprayer you have got. On the off chance that a wettable powder is used, the tumult of the blend is necessary.
A quart jolt connection for a cultivated hose will give great conveyance of a bug spray on grass. Utilize a connection that conveys a coarse splash and expansive volume of water. As a rule, a quart jostle full of an insecticide blend will cover approximately 500 square feet of grass. Snares are usually acquired prepared blended.
How To Choose And When To Apply Grub Control Products For Your Lawn
David Smitley, Terry Davis and Erica Hotchkiss, Michigan State University, Department of Entomology -May 22, 2020
Not all the grub control products on store shelves will be effective this spring. Heres how to choose and use the right one for your lawn.
Be sure the problem is grubs. Before doing anything, it is important to make sure the problem is grubs. In the last 10 years, the amount of European chafer damage to home lawns in southern Michigan has steadily decreased to the point where it is unusual now to find populations high enough to damage turf. However, as European chafers and Japanese beetles have spread northward, lawns and other low maintenance turf areas in much of the Lower Peninsula north of Lansing and in the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula are seeing more damage. The outbreak phase where turf damage is common may last five to 10 years.
European chafer grubs may be found in all locations in Michigans Lower Peninsula and in much of the Upper Peninsula. Regionally, European chafers are a much bigger problem than they used to be. In 2002, they were only found in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Southern Michigan, and eastern Ohio. Now it has spread throughout Ohio, Michigan , northern Indiana and into eastern Illinois. It was also reported in Wisconsin in 2013. In Canada, it is a problem in Ontario and Vancouver, so Washington State is on the lookout for it also.
Don’t Miss: Trugreen Pricing 2021
When To Treat Your Yard With Granules For Insects
Related Articles
Your home’s lawn may be the ideal area for relaxation and play, but insects often want to share your space the soil beneath the grass blades provides habitat for a pesky ant or flea population. One of the most effective ways to rid your lawn of any insect activity is granules. Typically made of pyrethroid-derived chemicals, these grains attack the insects’ nervous system and kill them. Proper timing is imperative for a safe and effective granule application.
Easy To Pull Patches Of Lawn Up
If you have dead patches of grass in the spring, you should head over to investigate whats going on. If you have a sodded lawn, youll notice that its easy to pull up entire patches of lawn, and thats a surefire sign that something has eaten all the roots.
This is typical of grubs, so theres a good chance that your lawn has an underlying grub problem. Theres also a small, but possible, chance that youll spot some grubs when you pull these sections up.
If youre noticing these sections in the fall, see if you cant gently pull up adjacent sections without tearing apart your lawn. If you can, theres a good chance you might be able to spot some grubs and give yourself a definitive diagnosis.
You May Like: Best All-wheel Drive Push Mower
Can You Apply Grub Control Too Early
While you want to apply grub control early, theres definitely a thing as too early. Most grub control products will work for about four months, so if youre applying it before that, you wont see the results youre looking for.
Also, keep in mind that grubs dont just lay their eggs for a week or two. They lay eggs for about one to two months, which means the earliest you can apply grub control is two months before they start laying eggs.
While early applications will yield the best results, you can definitely apply grub control too early and not get the results youre looking for.
How To Use The Pesticides For Lawn
Now you may be wondering how to use these magical pesticides for your garden. These pesticides can be applied to your vegetable garden, ornamental beds, containers, lawn, pasture, and any kinds of gardens. Identify the pest or pests you would like to work at disturbing and evaluate which may be more apt to use based on the behavior of each species of insects and pests. Adding the pesticides or insect controller for your garden or lawn is very simple. One of my favorite things in these pesticides spreading process is that you would not look like a moonwalker on a space mission when you are moving around in your yard. No big rubber gloves up to your armpits or masks covering your mouth and nose are needed for this process. Also, no sticky suits are required. If you prefer a little distance only you can wear gloves, but it is not necessary.
You May Like: Rent Chipper Shredder Lowes
Pests Digging Up Your Yard
Just because you cant tell that there are grubs underneath your yard just by looking at it, doesnt mean that various wildlife cant tell either.
Raccoons, skunks, armadillos, and some birds all feast on grubs, and they all have their own ways to find them. While you might think that these pests would act as a natural grub control method, the problem is that they cant get enough of them, and theyll tear up your lawn looking for more.
So, not only will you have dead patches everywhere from the grubs, but youll also have holes and other kinds of lawn damage from the animals trying to eat the grubs.
But they at least will give you a good idea that you have a problem and what that problem is!
What To Apply Preventative
Application Rate: 1.5 lbs / 1000Bag Covers: 6,666 sq ftCost: $39.00Cost per 1,000 sq ft: $5.91
This is a quick and easy way to get your grub application down. Most of you are used to applying dry products and you feel comfortable with them. I totally get that!However, you are going to pay more here as you can see . Additionally, its not that easy to get down only 1.5lbs of granular product with a cheaper spreader. This is more of a precision application at this lower rate. If you do end up putting down too much, you arent really going to hurt anything but…, …that is such a waste and we dont want to be getting crazy with this product anyway. Im not saying this to scare you. Im really just trying to call out the fact that you need to pay attention here. This isnt Milorganite where I tell you to just go out and Thrower Down and hope for the best. You really do want to be sure and get this one pretty close if not dead on. If you need to, invest in a higher quality spreader. .
Application Rate: .5 oz / gallon Bottle Covers: 55,000 sq ftCost: $21.24Cost per 1,000 sq ft: 39 cents
Application Rate: 1.5 lbs / 1000Bag Covers: 20,000 sq ftCost: $59.99Cost per 1,000 sq ft: $2.99
Read Also: How To Keep Geese Off Your Lawn
Using Pesticides As A Final Resort
Since they are so unsafe and diligent, using pesticides should be limited. In most cases, unless a few gigantic pervasion has eaten half the clears out of a plant, youll be able to handle the issue with family things and manual evacuation.
Numerous creepy crawlies can be discouraged or indeed slaughtered with a simple at-home shower with water and many drops of dishwashing concentrate.
There are numerous formulas on the web for home-brewed bug juice with fixings like mint, garlic, and citrus. On the off chance that you must utilize chemicals in your plant, pay uncommon consideration to pesticide application timing and be cautious not as it were almost your possess wellbeing but moreover that of others and of natural life too.
How Do I Know If My Lawn Has Pests
That is why you should consult a professional who can determine the real cause of your lawns poor health
- White grubs: notorious for aggressive root eating, this is the most common lawn pest in Kansas, grass will appear patchy, dying unevenly.
- Billbugs: although mature bugs may damage your grass, again it is the grub form that is the most destructive. You will notice lawn damage in the form of grass very easily uprooting from the soil as you rake or mow the lawn.
- Cutworms: This species is more of a nuisance to agricultural corn farmers, but there are still widespread cases of infestations in lawn turf.
- Scarab beetles: Again, the mature insects do not damage turf, but root-feeding larvae may weaken plants and kill lawns. Similar symptoms of dying, brown, wilted spots, or bare patches.
Recommended Reading: Lines In Lawn
How To Use Acelepryn Gr
Acelepryn GR is an easy-to-use insecticide and can be spread using any turf fertiliser spreader.
- Mow your lawn before applying the insecticide.
- Depending on the type of pest you are targeting, use a fertiliser spreader to apply between 75kg to 150kg per hectare of grass.
- Check the label for how much to apply for each type of pest.
- Unless you are targeting caterpillars, you should water immediately after application.
- Approximately 3 6mm of water is ideal. If this isnt possible, try to plan the insecticide application shortly before it rains.
- If you are treating caterpillars, do not water or mow for 24 hours.
- Once the Acelepryn has washed into the thatch layer of the lawn , you can return to mowing as normal.
How Do I Apply Sevin Insect Killer Granules
Broadcast Sevin® Insect Killer Granules to give even, uniform coverage over the affected area. Refer to the product label for the correct application rate for the insect pest or pests involved. In gardens, apply the granules as spot or area treatments. For lawns and home perimeter applications, use a regular lawn spreader for thorough coverage. Lawn spreaders have different settings for different products. Your Sevin® Insect Killer Granules label can help you find the spreader setting you need.
Also Check: Rent Core Aerator Lowes
What Is A Fair Price For Pest Control
The treatment cost per month can range from $100 to $300 depending on what plan you select. There are often several treatment trips and annual pest inspections as compared to a single visit treatment that costs $300 to $500. It varies based on what type of pest you are dealing with as well as pest control.
Tips And Tricks For Safe And Effective Use
Choose a suitable time of day
The best time of day to apply a lawn insect killer treatment is in the early morning or evening. If you apply the product in the middle of the day, it may evaporate in the sun which will make the treatment far less effective.
Take weather conditions into consideration
As mentioned above, applying your treatment under the blazing midday sun will cause it to evaporate before it has a chance to take effect.
Another weather condition that can sabotage your lawn insect-killing efforts is heavy rainfall, which will wash away the product before it can work. Therefore, the best time to apply a lawn insect killer is right after a heavy rainfall.
Mow the lawn first
Cutting the grass on your lawn before you apply your insect killer will give pest insects fewer places to hide. This ensures maximum contact of the product with your target pests and, therefore, more effective treatment.
Mowing the lawn before you apply your pesticide will also help to displace bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and other beneficial insect species so they arent harmed by the treatment.
Keep people and pets out of recently treated areas
Many insect lawn killers contain ingredients that are toxic to humans and animals, and which may cause skin and eye irritation. Always keep people and pets out of treated areas until the product has had a chance to dry.
Don’t Miss: How To Bring Back A Dead Lawn
When To Apply Grub Control
Grub damage starts to become evident in around May when theres increased activity following the feeding program that you started in early spring. It is important to know when to apply grub control in order to prevent damage to your grass.
The best time to apply grub control is between early spring and late summer when theres increased grub worm activity in your lawn. For grub preventers, apply between June and July just before they hatch while for grub killers, apply the treatment from spring when you see signs of grass damage.
June bugs, billbugs, and European chafers usually lay their eggs in lawns and gardens. As soon as they hatch, they develop into grubworms and start eating the grass roots throughout the warm seasons.
Youll notice signs of dead patches of grass any time from early spring to mid summer when the damage stops due to the grubs having developed into pupae and adults.
So, throughout this life cycle of Japanese beetles and European chafers, what is the best time to treat for grubs with a preventer or a killer?
What Is A Good Yard Insecticide
Dylox is one of the best yard insecticides that you can purchase. It is an overall good yard insecticide. Dylox is especially beneficial for controlling grubs quickly. It works on other bugs that live above and below ground. The ground must be watered upon first application but then does not have to be watered again.
You May Like: Rent Hedge Trimmer Lowes
What To Apply Curative
Bag Covers: 10,000 sq ftCost: $67.95Cost per 1,000 sq ft: $4.53
Apply this in areas where you find grubs plus a 10ft additional buffer zone to ensure you get them all. When in doubt, just blanket the entire sunny part of the lawn, water it in. You may need a second application 14 days later if there are high populations of grubs later in the season. This product has the added benefit of being decently effective against sod webworm, mole cricket, and armyworm. You can probably find products with this active ingredient at your local big box store as well, just keep in mind that concentrations of active ingredient can vary, thus changing the application rates.
Clothianidin – Brand Name you may see: Arena
Application Rate: 2.25 lbs / 1000 Bag Covers: 13,333 sq ftCost: $104.54Cost per 1,000 sq ft: $7.86When I worked at TruGreen – this was my favorite quick kill insect control. Its expensive but effective. Its also got some residual activity against grubs and other insects but we dont really buy it just for that reason alone. As a preventative, its super expensive and wont last as long as the other preventative options. But as a curative, this product is VERY effective, quickly. At higher rates, its absolutely an excellent choice against resistant chinch bugs and armyworms too, better than Dylox. Water it in.