I wanted to try the Milky Spore, but cannot with a pond and fish. We put the nematodes down this past Spring and there was a noticable difference in the JB's. We will do this again this coming Spring. I am hoping each year to see less and less of the JB's. My neighbors don't garden - I am sure I will see JB's from their yards. I don't use the bag traps for the reason that Gita stated - those traps attract the JB's. I do have a neighbor though that is quite difficult at best to get along with and have thought often of putting a trap or two in his yard...... unfortunately, I have not had enough nerve to to do this....
Chris - love your froggies....
HAPPENINGS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC FORUMPart #2
Carolyn--
To my knowledge, Milky Spore is safe...The spores in it seek out the JB grubs, lay their eggs
on the grubs and as the eggs hatch--they feed on the flesh of the grub.
Eventually, the grub dies--releasing millions of more spores into the soil which
seek out the grubs, etc....etc....
MS is applied at about 1tsp. at the corners of a 4' square area.
It may take 3-4 years to get complete coverage in the lawn.
I have not read all the info on this product. Is it really toxic to pond fish? Why?
HD sells MS in those 'tubs"...I think it is something like $28-$29 for it.
Gita
May have to invest in the milky spore thing here also...we have 15 acres so neighbors aren't a problem.....but lots of JB's...wonder if this would also help whatever is putting holes in my turnips? Was wondering if decigenous earth(sp?) would help any....Any answers...????
Hall, I think the turnip issue is a different "animal" If I can remember I think the old cure for the holes in root veg is wood ash, have to do a search on that. Diatomaceous Earth is a wonderful thing, it would be safe to use for vegs. My dog groomer even recommends it for use in the area that my dogs run for flea control.
http://www.harvestwizard.com/2009/06/turnip_rutabaga_kohlrabi_growi.html
Hall, here is a link for you. Page down to where it says holes in leaves, roots and you will see you are spot on with the Diatomaceous Earth
Gita
it is on the back of the Milky Spore package..... It maybe just an extra precaution the company has on their packaging so they don't get sued, but I don't want to take a chance on that.
Just have to say that there is a wealth of information on this thread. Everyone is so knowledgeable and so willing to share their expertise. I can vouch for the Milky Spore doing a good job. The first couple of years that I gardened at this house, I was forever finding grubs in the beds. Someone suggested using the Milky Spore and it has now been several years and it is very seldom that I will see a grub. It is probably rolling around to the time that I need to re-apply.
John has used the bags in the past too and it is amazing how many are attracted to the bags. JB's do some really ugly damage to plants, that is for sure.
Here is wishing everyone a great new year.
Ruby
Happy New Year to you too, Ruby. Glad to see you popping into DG from time to time.
It is still on the warm side but raining today. I looked out the powder room window at the water garden and thought I spied a frog. Got my camera and spotted 3.
Here is the 1st one.
The second one, not as brave.
Sorry for the poor quality, the window is dirty, not easy to clean this time of year.
Note the rain drop splash on the left side.
And the bravest. The go for it frog.
Cool lady. Don't they know it is WINTER????? :-))
Gita,
Thanks for helping me remember what I did last summer that may have resulted in only seeing at the most two J beetles on my property. In the middle of June I applied milky spore. My next door neighbor was plagued with the J beetles. She also had a lot of stink bugs ... I had none!
Mary
Neat pics lady, Bright spots in a dull rainy day.
we woke up to a blue sky but it soon got overcast. Harumph!!! I am so easily disappointed when my unseasonably nice weather turns seasonable again!!!
Happy new year all- I think I had not gotten ruby and john yet so there, here it is!
I'm enjoying watching the MUMMER'S PARADE. Very creative performances for amatuers. the 15 minute long fireworks display at Penn's Landing was spectacular.
MARY
Hey, Mary, thanks for reminding me it is on. I enjoy watching them too. I will do that while I wipe off my camellia leaves. ugh
People here don't even know what mummers are. Isn't that funny. Philly isn't that far away.
I forgot to remind you all to watch the Rose Parade on HGTV it is the best coverage of the parade.
Merry I haven't seen the Mummers Parade in years it was always a highlight. I wonder how much it has changed since I saw it last.
Chris that is so funny your frogs being out today. It is pretty warm out there almost 50 here. I never thought to look for mine.
I have heard that those JB bait traps are best put in your neighbors yard. Buy them and give them to your neighbors as nice gesture. LOL I have been told they attract the JB so you will have a lot of them though your garden before they become trapped.
Lady,
Thanks so much for the information. I will put this (milky spore)on my list of things to get for spring.....I have the DE...I bought a bunch this past year.....don't quite remember what for exactly.
I am disappointed that the Mummers were not televised in our area. They are great to watch.
I am not a big football fan but I am disappointed that the Steelers/Brown Game will not be on either. we have to watch Buffalo. Living so close to the Ohio line there is quite a rivalry. My boss and I tease each other after a S/B game.
I am about to leave you all for the evening. I have things I just must attend to and I keep stopping and reading your posts. Stay out of trouble and remember, give your dog a hug tonight before you go to bed. If you do not have a dog, well, how about your cat, or whatever....seriously, spread your love around and I will see you tomorrow. JB
What is Milky Spore? I have a few JB's, but never noticed damage from them. What do they do? Feel really 'stufid' about now.
DE????
bye bye JB
Crit
they make an absolute mess out of plants - skeletonizing the leaves and eating rose buds down to the green before they even open. They seem to show up around the week of 4th of July here. They are horrible.
Apparently they have not made it far enough west to reach you yet. My sister said something about them 2 years ago as far as her area is concerned and she is in Chicago.... Pray you don't get them - they decimate plants.
Carolyn
I do have JB's. I can remember them as a little girl ..... just never realized they were damaging to plants. Learn something new every day.
Crit Check out this link to see a few pics and learn a bit about the Mummers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Parade
The Mummer's Parade is one, if the best of parades .... all volunteers .... it is over 100 years old ... last several hours ... fantastic costumes and performances ....one brigade this year had over 900 participants ...all outfitted as green frogs.
The events at Penn's Landing New Years Eve makes me wonder why there is so much fuss about a silly electnonic ball drop at Time Square.
MARY
Mary
I feel the same way about that ball that drops at Times Square. My brother is a news director and I asked him about it and the only thing he could tell me was that is 'news'...... Makes me wonder sometimes...
I watched (on TV) the Fancy Brigades' performaces. Totally spectacular .... each year they outdo the previous year's presentations. The Fancies perform in the Convention Center .... I have decided to go next year.
Anyone would be in awe over the costumes, performances, scenery .... oh they had one performace (a Circus theme) ... 3 life size mechanical elephants with life-like movements ...hilarious monkeys ... life size giraffes, etc.
Some of the costumes had to cost at least $500.00.
MARY
I not only missed the Mummers, I missed the Rose Bowl Parade. I had one of those days.
I have to work when someone is willing to help and I had help yesterday, so I worked. Oh well, maybe I will get lucky and live to see next years celebrations.
The weather is good for ducks and walking if you do not mind the misty rain. I took a long walk following where the snow had melted last night.
Today is bookkeeping day. Need to do it. Then I must file...........does anyone else just put papers on a pile until there is no longer room and you must file them? Besides the end of the year is here and I need to find things. Groaning and Moaning is my theme for today.
Be back later. JB
I throw all my filing into a drawer until I can't open it then I have to file it. LOL My Dad was spending the day shredding his old bills and paperwork. He keeps everything for 7 years and each year he starts the New Year by shredding the oldest year.
Oh my goodness the dreaded paper piles! Thankfully we hired a new assistant at work and she has been an inspiration for me, she is a shredder and tosser. We get into conversations at work and she has opened up the door for me.
I now keep a file drawer with pocket files for each month for receipts. When that month comes I shred all the last year receipts and put in this years.
I called a credit card company for work and asked how long to keep the customer receipts, they told me one year as after a year it is too late to dispute a sale or charge on the card.
As far as the utility bills as long as they are paid every month and each consecutive bill shows no balance carried forward why keep them longer then one year.
Now IRS papers, and taxes I hold onto those and they are filed in a separate drawer. I also have a file where I collect all papers during the year that might be needed at tax time.
Every once in a while usually after watching Hoarders I will pull out a pile of old receipts (before my system was in place) and start shredding. Shredder pappers are good for the compost pile ; > )
Interesting discussion - How long do you all keep receipts from purchases. Those reciepts drive me nuts. There are so many and they end up all over and then when I need to find one, forget it - I can never find them.
If it is a big ticket item and there is a instruction booklet with it, I staple the receipts into the book. Then file the book into a drawer with all the other instruction books. If it a cheap item or something that I'll never return I toss it when I clean out my coat pocket or purse.
Chris -
My husband does that, but it seems like it is the little reciepts that get me...... I am thinking perhaps I should keep reciepts based on stores - it is the Lowes reciepts that seem to be an issue.
Carolyn, ask your self would" I ever return this ?" You could also put it in your monthly folder and shread it when it is a year old with all your other papers.
UGH!!!!!! All this paperwork talk is depressing me! I don't even want to 'think' about starting. WHICH pile to do first?!?!?!?!? :-))
Chris
Good idea. Thanks!
Crit - I totally agree with you!
New threads sometimes inspire new visitors. This is a great topic so I'm going to give it a thread. Feel free to go there, or not if its too depressing LOL
Crit...My favorite saying is "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." Start small so you are not overwhelmed, stop before you loose interest. Set aside even one day a week for a short time to take an other bite.