Nematodes: How can you use them properly? - My Landscapers

Nematodes: How can you use them properly?

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Organic farmers use roundworms or nematodes. They use them as substitutes for harmful pesticides. It acts as organic pest control. Also, farmers eliminate pests in the garden. Pests include slugs, ants, and flies. 

How do nematodes work?

These organisms are very tiny. They live by eating other creatures:

  1. It gets inside the pest.
  2. They deliver disease-causing organisms.
  3. It can eat the pest from inside its body.
Nematodes
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Compared with pesticides, nematodes are more reliable. It directly damages the target. On the other hand, pesticide spray can miss the target. Hence, pesticides might harm helpful insects unintentionally.

You can purchase roundworms over the internet. However, they are a little costly. Further, one must stick to the directions carefully.

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How should I use this organism?

A particular type of nematode kills a certain pest. Keep this in mind when you buy one. Also, use them correctly.

  1. The soil must be over 5°C all the time.
  2. It is important to use lively pests.
  3. Apply them at dawn or nightfall. Nematodes are sensitive to light. Hence, you should apply them in dark hours of the day.

Where should I buy them?

You can purchase nematodes from online stores like the Organic Gardening Catalogue. They have a good variety.

Usage Instruction

It is good to use nematodes immediately. Yet, they can last for several weeks. Once you receive the nematodes, you can keep them in a refrigerator. Just be careful not to freeze them. Nematodes are packed in a small plastic pouch. They come through a paste.

  • First, create a semiliquid mixture. Do this by blending the paste with a little water. Then, add more water and mix again.
  • Second, use the mixture. Coarse watering can help. It ensures that the nematodes can pass through the opening.
  • Third, allow wetness and warmth to the soil. Keep it this way for several weeks. It ensures that the organisms are alive.
  • Finally, do this process again if needed. Some pests, like slugs, are hard to eliminate. 

When Will I See the Effect?

Commonly, effects are visible in a week. Significant results show two to four weeks later. You might wonder why there are no dead pests after the process. Remember that nematodes consume pests. Hence, you will not see their dead bodies. That only happens with pesticides.

How Many Times Should I Use Nematodes?

It is better to use nematodes when there are immature insects. Usually, these insects appear in the fall and spring. It is essential to know whether there are larvae, spot parent pests. The presence of parent pests means that they have young ones. Therefore, you should use nematodes again.

Here are common garden pests and their nematode enemies:

 Chafer grubs

Animals like badgers eat chafer grubs. Hence, these animals can dig in your garden. Also, you can detect grubs through yellow patches in the ground. Heterorhabitis bacteriophora is a well-known type of nematode. They can eliminate grubs. It is essential to kill the young pests in August.

Ants

Nematode Steinernema poisons the group of ants and leads to fewer worker ants. Worker ants bring food to the queen ant. Therefore, the queen will eventually die of hunger. This type of nematode works best in April and the closely following months.

Immature Crane Fly

Young crane flies can cause damaged plant roots. Steinernema feltiae is good for fighting these pests. The fall season is the most ideal time to use this nematode pest control. During this time, parent crane flies are producing. Further, the ground is hot.

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Codling moth and onion fly

Nemasys Natural Fruit and Veg Protection is a typical mix. It is a blend of different organisms. It is used to eliminate the pests mentioned above. When you sow new plants, you can apply this mix. You can also use this to eliminate specific pests. For example, gooseberry sawfly caterpillars frequent plant leaves. Hence, you can spray this treatment mix directly to them.

Vine weevils

Steinernema kraussei can hunt down immature forms of the insect. Unlike other organisms, Steinernema kraussei can withstand the cold. They live in temperatures below 5°C. Hence, gardeners in the Southern regions can apply these nematodes in March. It is the perfect month to eliminate insects. Vines are most active between March and May months.

 Slugs

Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a significant pest killer, and nematodes can control the slug’s actions. They drive the slugs under the ground. There, they will eat the dead slugs. Later, these nematodes will reproduce. Finally, a new group of nematodes will look for slugs.

At My Landscapers, we understand what Gardens and lawn require in the fall. Request your free lawn care estimate today, and a My Landscapers landscaping professional will help you understand the needs of your property. With Fall already here in Toronto, Vaughan & Richmond Hill, it is important to have your grass and garden maintained.

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