Lawn bug issue, Grubs. Installing veg garden, what to do?
I have a large back yard in Sth FL. I started to put a veg garden in place, raking, compost, pete moss, etc, etc. My lawn has been getting worse over the last few months. I wasn't too concerned beacuse I had planned to renovate a lot of it into a veg garden anyway. I now realise what was killing the grass, White grubs, along with the the adult beatles. It seems the only treatment for these grubs is Imidacloprid, or brand name premise/merit/advance etc. I have read that this chemical can be harmfull to bees. I'm not sure what to do. If I treat the lawn but not the veg gaden area, will the grubs move into the veg garden? How harmful is premise? Is there an organic treatment, less harmful to the bees? Any input would be appreciated.
[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_spore]Here[/url] is some info on milky spore.cynthia_h wrote:Many members of the forum have also recommended "milky spore," a bacterium (fungus?) which thrives on those grubs and which persists in the soil for a long time. Safe for mammals, including humans of all ages and sizes, and safe for pollinators of all orders.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
It looks pretty effective, but I'm not sure how the bacteria would hold up to the soil-working and cultivating that comes with a garden. I would think it's worth a try, though.
However, you should do not only your garden, but also your whole lawn, otherwise you'll just have more grubs replacing the ones you killed.
I'm not sure, but Bt. may work. I can't remember if it has to come in contact with the pest to be effective, though .
From [url=https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/200000LT.txt?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=1995%20Thru%201999&Docs=&Query=730K95001%20or%20When%20or%20you%20or%20are%20or%20ready%20or%20buy%20or%20a%20or%20pesticide%20or%20product%20or%20follow%20or%20these%20or%20recommendations%20or%20First%20or%20be%20or%20certain%20or%20that%20or%20you%20or%20have%20or%20identified%20or%20the%20or%20problem%20or%20correctly&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=pubnumber%5E%22730K95001%22&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&UseQField=pubnumber&IntQFieldOp=1&ExtQFieldOp=1&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEX%20DATA%5C95THRU99%5CTXT%5C00000001%5C200000LT.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h%7C-&MaximumDocuments=10&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&Display=p%7Cf&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=19]Citizen's Guide to Pest Control And Pesticide Safety[/url]
When you are ready to buy a pesticide product, follow these recommendations:
First, be certain that you have identified the problem correctly. Then, choose the least toxic pesticide that will achieve the results you want and be the least toxic to you and the environment.