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ipswich, ma usa

This will be the first year I will be trying Merit to help with the SVB problem. My question is this, does one spray the dirt prior to planting or is it wise to wait till the plant grows and then sparay the plant? Seems to me it would be nice to hook up that cute little blue bottle to my hose spray down the patch and let it do its work once the plant starts growing. But I could be wrong.

John (5150)

4/7/2004 9:04:49 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

I would spray the dirt prior to planting....as the plant grows it will pick up the systemic and be a real problem for the little buggers!
chuck

4/7/2004 9:21:57 AM

Norton, MA

But after that don't spray the plant? Also is Warrior T needed along with that? And how would it be applied? Thanks, Alex.

4/7/2004 10:24:49 AM

Waquoit Mass

forget the merit it kills your worms warrior T the way to go dave

4/7/2004 2:13:39 PM

C N Y

i have a $90 pint little jug of Admire Flowable 2F, i think it's called----it is a SYSTEMIC insecticide that is usde to water-in the plant, and the granular stuff is tilled-into the soil when the soil is prepped for planting, like a week or so before you actually plant. i haven't used the granular, only the Admire 2F. oh, yeah, i'm thinking cucumber beetles. but i believe it also works on SVB, so good luck with it. it is like medicine, it does no good unless it gets in you. and of course read the labels on
everything really closely----i was not aware about the earthworm problem....something to strongly consider! worms are our friends. don't hurt 'em. anyway...it is probably also somewhat effective to spray the plant, but being a systemic, well, it's already "in there". no harm to spray, but probably not necessary if it's already in the soil, depending on the label's directions. and, usually there is a period of effectiveness and it will have to be applied again, probably even the granular....good luck---eric

4/7/2004 2:31:22 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I have used Grub-ex the last two seasons with good results as far as borers go. Pre-season application and some Sevin when the Cuke beetles show up. Locals in the 'hood should be getting together soon for pre-season strategy mtg. Drop me your # privately and I'll keep you posted.
Duff

4/7/2004 8:55:09 PM

[email protected]

Worried about worms? Avoid Sevin & high salt materials.

I sell more Imidacloprid than any other (outside sales) person on earth. But don't take my word for it.

According to Clyde S. Gorsuch, Extension Entomologist at Clemson University, Imidacloprid is classified as "LOW" toxicity to Earthworms.

http://www.sodsolutions.com/turfmgt/insects.html

I use Merit (same as Admire, Provado, Marathon, etc) & have every year except one of the past 8 years on my lawn. I still have way too many Earthworms. So many that the neighbors come here when they have a fishing trip planned & forget to buy bait. Peat Moss top-dressings, Organic (& moderate use of high quality synthetic) fertilizers, healthy high cut turf, & automatic irrigation make Heaven for Earthworms.

Part of our worm misconceptions center on the type of Earthworms we desire. Avoid high salt amendments like fresh manures (little red worms like fresh manure) & Mushroom compost if Canadian or European Nightcrawlers are desired. Use salty amendments or fertilizers & the Nightcrawlers will run very deep. They won't die. But you won't see them either. I like Nightcrawlers because they are the garden work-horses at breaking down organic materials quickly in soil. The also open the soil & aerate it.

continued

4/7/2004 9:24:43 PM

[email protected]

Back when I had a putting green in my backyard, I tried every chemical imaginable to kill the worms. Worms are hell on a reel mower & disturb the roll of the ball on non-sand greens. Sevin insecticide & Benomyl fungicide were the best at killing worms. (Nothing beat Chlordane though) It would take all of 3 weeks for them to return.

Drought, high temperatures, roto-tilling, & high chloride fertilizers do a lot more damage to earthworms than Merit.

Treat soils 2 weeks before planting. Water in slowly & keep moist. In high pressure situations, another application in 90-100 days is advised.

This does not negate the need for good contact insecticides since Merit/Admire doesn't control all the buggers we're after fast enough to save the year. What contacts miss, Merit will get in many cases.

Think Seatbelts & Airbags here. In a big wreck, we're better off with both.

Steve

4/7/2004 9:24:53 PM

C N Y

nice closing statement, as well as ALL the rest---
stuff i'd never have found out on my own!
and, thank you! by the weigh, Tremor, i found out the hard weigh that the nice gallon jug of PGR IV i got last spring has gone bad, rancid as can be----i had
intended to use it full-force this spring all around,
re-reading all the info on here from you from back then,
but it is useless now it's bad. peeeew! i'm hoping for a replacement jug anytime soon.......the guy said "yeah, you pretty much need to use it up in the season you get it in.."
live and learn................eric

4/8/2004 12:58:22 PM