| | For the average homeowner, organic gardener, or farmer, Beneficial Nematodes offer the greatest value when it comes to biological control due to the wide variety of pests they control and how easy it is to get great results. Chinch bugs, grubs, ants, fleas, cut worms and over 250 soil dwelling pests that are so difficult to control using other methods are just a tasty mid afternoon snack for Beneficial Nematodes. 90% of all insects spend as least part of their life cycle in the soil and fall prey, most before they enter their adult stage.
Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic and live below the soil surface and like a moist environment. Looking like short non-segmented worms these voracious predators make their way through your lawn and garden looking for food. Nematodes do not harm worms, birds, plants or the environment, in fact they are part of the environment.
When the Nematode comes in contact with a pest, they attack by entering through body openings or simply by boring though the body wall, once inside, the Nematode will release a bacteria that kills it's host within 48 hours. They will feed and reproduce before exiting in search of fresh prey.
REMINDER: In order to keep Nematodes alive and active, you must maintain a regular watering schedule. Once every 7 to 8 days during Spring or periods of 85 degrees. Once every 5 to 6 days during Summer or periods above 85 degrees. Your lawn will do better with this schedule as well.
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| | A strong and healthy lawn incorporates more than mowing, water, fertilizing and weed control. It should also include top dressing with compost. Compost will do the following: - Cause fertilizer to feed slower, preventing quick weak, disease prone growth
- Improve drainage
- Increase the amount of beneficial oganisms in the soil by adding bacteria and worms among others which support plant growth
- Breaks up tight soils which allows the roots to spread and air to penetrate
- Build a better water holding capacity
- Improves nutrient content of the soil
- Balances both acid and alkaline soils bringing the pH level into range for nutrient availability
- Helps to build strong roots
- Increase disease resistance
- Alters the texture and structure of the soil and increase the resistance to erosion
- Single application used as a top dressing will provide two pounds of nitrogen released over the entire growing season
These benefits do not happen immediately. It is recommended that you top dress once every year. The use of a different kind each year increases the microbial diversity that produces a healthier soil. The best time to do this is Fall through Winter while the grass is not growing and/or dormant. Top dressing in Spring or Summer, while the grass is active, could suffocate the grass or slow the growth rate as the grass will have to grow up through the compost. Water the compost in. Water once a week for 30 minutes to work compo Diatomaceous Earth Perma-Guard Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is totally organic and safe. It contains less than 1% percent of Crystal & Silicon. Some of the uses for Diatomaceous Earth include; household pets, gardens, flowerbeds, field crops, grain storage, and livestock feeding. Diatomaceous Earth is Mother Nature's product that is harmless to the environment, pets or to people. Diatomaceous Earth is not an earth, it is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS. Diatomaceous Earth kills by physical action, not chemical by puncturing the insect’s exoskeleton and absorbing its body fluids, thus posing no harm to warm-blooded life. Moreover, on any surface, these natural pesticide products have a remarkable repellency factor. As long as it is present, insects tend to stay away, making a serious infestation unlikely. Also, the more it is used, the more an environment is created that tends to make insects feel unwelcome.
Household Use: Use Diatomaceous Earth for control of roaches, silverfish, ants, bedbugs, flies, fleas, box elder bugs, scorpions, crickets, and many others. Diatomaceous Earth can be used in and around the home, yard, animal housing, etc. Plants Use For control of aphids, white fly, beetles, loopers, mites, leaf hoppers, and others. Use Diatomaceous Earth inside your home, greenhouse or outdoors on fruits,vegetables, flowers, grains and grass, up to and including day of harvest. For dry application of Diatomaceous Earth use a duster and cover entire plant, apply to both top and bottom of leaf. For young plants, as little as two pounds per acre may be adequate. For larger plants, five lbs per acre is probably sufficient. Diatomaceous Earth will need reapplication after a rain. Applies best when there is dew or after a light rain. It is a long lasting, effective powder. The insects can not build up resistance. |