Grubs and MIlky Spore

[@aliash8599]

I squish them in my fingers

[@suziehartwright]

Thanks! 😉

[@lisahardy2070]

We used to dig these up and feed them to the chickens

[@fatherandsons126]

That says a lot actually... IF you "must" have a perfectly green lawn, then grubs may create a problem. But grubs are also part of nature!

[@lisahardy2070]

@@fatherandsons126 Had nothing to do with a lawn. The chickens ate them on their own with or without us. We were kids

[@fatherandsons126]

We have ducks that do that as well... another reason we try not to overdo treatment on the lawn.

[@lisahardy2070]

@@fatherandsons126 Oh I see. I thought you were implying we did it for lawn care lol. This was out in the country on a mini farm. we saw a lot of them developing the land and digging post holes etc. The chickens devoured them. I never see grubs anymore around here though. I wonder why.

[@RustyX2010]

As soon as I water my garden and the soil is all moist they all come up to the surface of the garden then the lizards come out for a buffet! lol

[@KRowe]

How many times a year do you need to treat? Boy, we got a bad infestation this year!

[@fatherandsons126]

I have had the best luck with spring and fall application- and japanese beetle traps... 2 years in a row, then skip a year. Giving soil a chance to do it's ecological magic by itself. The problem with overinfestation is it sets of a messy off-balance...

[@jaybarich3302]

Is it good for your Gardens can you use a milky spore in your garden and not worry about any chemical reaction to your body

[@fatherandsons126]

NO! Remember, anything your edible plant roots absorb, go into the fruit or vegetible. I'd use things like recultivation of soil, used coffee grinds or some kind of safe and food-based product... grubs aren't typical in gardens, but can occur.

[@crabbiecakes5663]

@@fatherandsons126 Yes! Milky spore is a bacteria so safe to use in the garden. It also stays in the soil for up to 6-10 years so it doesn't matter when you put it down.

[@russellhart1721]

Grubs and the Japanese bettle larvae are two different types of insects. The Japanese bettle can be killer with milky spore, BUT WILL NOT KILL GRUBS. Use grub ex or the grub killer by Barye. Pay attention to the timing of when to use each one of these products. Use milky spore in early May, grub ex in mid June and grub killer by Barye in mid July. Milky spore last for many years. The other two should be used once a year.

[@philodox7599]

I believe that you are wrong, grubs are the babies of Japanese Beatles. Milky spore will kill the Japanese Beatles larva/ babies. HOWEVER milky spore will not kill the grubs/larva/babies of European Beatles.

[@Hodado]

So should I put it down inMarch or later in Michigan? Or is the climate wrong for milky spore?

[@fatherandsons126]

Oh, it works great in all regions of the world... it affects the grub itself (basically larvae). My suggestion is when the ground is thawed, shows signs of pre-spring, slight tints of green in the grass (if you look close). You want the spore to get in the dirt and hit the larvae as they begin to wiggle their way up for a nice lush root snack!

[@arielstereo5484]

Every year the same side of my lawn is bare after resodding. Can it be grubbs?

[@fatherandsons126]

Not always- if you dig up a foot or so of soil there and you see grubs, then voila! Grubs. But can also be poor soil, lack of water, too much sun, pet urin, or bad annula grass seed...

[@arielstereo5484]

@fatherandsons126 In one area, I dug up like 5 grubs or so, but in other places, including the bare area, nothing. I even poured dish soap and water mix in some areas and waited to see if they rise and nothing.

[@fatherandsons126]

​@@arielstereo5484 Remember, once foraged, they move on- OR hatch... So appying it won;t hurt, but focus more on good cultivated and organically rich soil, qualty, drought resistant seed, regular watering to build a healthy ecossytem. Also grub traps help. We want to build a resilient lawn that is healthy enough and strong enough to endure the stresses...

[@arielstereo5484]

@@fatherandsons126 Yes, I've been using MicroLife products for the soil that's organic. I'll also get some organic grub control Grubout from Lawnbox.

[@MerkinMuffly]

yikes, that stuff's high

[@artbyrobot1]

if the beetles come out in june, then applying in august makes no sense. Seems better to apply in may before they turn into beetles

[@fatherandsons126]

In many areas, various beetles and other insects lay eggs and have dual cycles... especially with irregular weather cycles- for us- the emerge twice/year, and applications those two times have made a huge difference...

[@rbbiefah]

What ag zone are you in ?

[@fatherandsons126]

Eastern North (New England) US

[@jennifercline6866]

Drought this year has killed a good amount of grass, not sure how many grubs are there.

[@fatherandsons126]

Believe it or not- those smart little buggers dig deeper and still thrive! They eat what they need, emerge, and move on to areas with more greenery...

[@jennifercline6866]

@@fatherandsons126 Ugg, wonderful. Skunks used to eat them but haven't seen any this summer. Any I dig go in bird dish.

[@fatherandsons126]

@@jennifercline6866 haha, indeed. Nature has other plans! It really is a beautiful ecosystem... and tricky when we try to "balance" it out!

[@sharongauss9298]

It’s May here in Maryland and I have them in my flower garden this year. What/ how do I kill them , on top of the mulch?

[@fatherandsons126]

Drought is a big problem... using newer drought reistant grass can help, or planting what's used in Florida/southern heat works well - but in cooler months doesn't look as nice... Shading with green pines, or landscaping with stone is great for drought areas... doesn't always have to be grass (as much as we love it!)

[@ArthurTheLibraryDetective]

😎👍🌿💞

[@GarrettXHolder]

Not all grubs are invasive

[@GarrettXHolder]

In fact many provide key roles in nutrient cycling. Kill your lawn

[@fatherandsons126]

Excellent point, thank you. We shoudl be suggesting that IF it is an overabundance of grubs, or insects like the Japanaes beetle that can infest... then, you may consider treatment. And that is if having a green, healthy lawn is important... I know many people that allow natural environments to just be as they are also.

[@hayriakdeniz7369]

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