From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Western PA

I tried to post this in another area under a thread started by "PAP". I guess I should have started it here. My concern is this. Last season I had some SVB's and I am sure that I did not get all of them. Some are probably over wintering in my soil.
I was planning on mixing in some grub-ex into my planting area. I can only think that the grub-ex would do more harm than good.It would almost have to kill worms too.
Would I be better off just useing a good systemic to try to take care of them ? I do plan on burrying all my vines better than last year also.
Lee

2/21/2010 12:44:57 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

Use of any systemic implies that the insect will have at least made that first penetrating entry into your vine.....with the hope that the systemic then does what is expected.

It's good you acknowledge that any harm to earthworms is NOT a good thing. Since you recognize that SVB eggs are likely over-wintering in your soil why not apply generous amounts of Diatomaceous Earth over your garden areas as soon as spring has emerged where you live ? You can follow-up with periodic re-applications once you have planted those stumps into their patch locations and along the course of the vines that grow. You can also lightly "dust" the vines and leaves with that substance. DE gets into articulated joints of insects that walk around, and cuts them open so as to lose body fluids. They do not like the stuff. It's a natural resource, and not a man-made chemical. It imparts silicon into your soil as well, good for cell wall strength of your pumkins, etc.

Soil Mender Products offers this with their Crawling Insect Killer. Call them, and mail-order a few 5# bags, or a 50#er. With a credit card they will UPS it to you. Say that Ross suggested you to phone them.

2/23/2010 2:42:28 PM

Sacramento, Ca

Does DE work on snails and slugs?

2/23/2010 9:53:25 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Its not just the overwintering SVB you have to worry about. The adults will fly in from other areas. Your grub-ex is a systemic (Merit).A combination of Merit and contact sprays should work. I haven't used DE but it should help. SVB has given me lots of trouble in the past, but I had none in 2009.

2/27/2010 8:51:24 AM