Systemic insecticide/butterfly garden

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IRNBTFLY Ogden, UT Sep 30, 2008

I have several poplar/cottonwood hybrids that I just love. I had planned to plant a butterfly garden (for monarchs) this spring about 20 feet from my trees. This year, a beetle of some kind has invaded my neighbors cottonwoods and killed many of them. I have seen some tale-tale signs of an invasion in one of my trees.

It has been suggested that I use a systemic insecticide around my trees. Will the insecticide affect my butterfly garden? Could it kill larve or butterflies this coming year?

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britbrighton Ancram, NY Sep 30, 2008

I, personally have always been wary about insecticides. If they can cause cancer in people/animals etc, even small doses,then do butterflies or plants stand a chance? My brother lives in a neighborhood where everyone's lawns and gardens are sprayed and preened so that not a blade of grass is out of place. It is suspiciously quiet of wildlife there and all their plantings; trees, shrubs, flowers etc keep dying every couple years and they can't figure out why? Hmmmm....
There are wonderful natural alternatives to keeping bugs away without harming the natural order of things. I suggest using a search engine with your question and print out all you can find on your particular problem. Stores are all too quick to suggest "poisons". In my part of the country we have a japanese beetle problem but have learned how to keep them at bay without chemicals. My mother plants certain herbs around the perimeter of her gardens that really do repel bugs and animals. Check it out online! Hope this helps!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 30, 2008

I'm not a huge fan of systemics in the garden either although depending on how bad this beetle is you may not have a lot of options to save your trees. If the trees are fairly isolated from the other plants in your garden, then you probably won't do too much harm by treating the trees, but if they're right near the bed where your butterfly garden is then I'd definitely look for other options first. Either way, I would do some research on the beetle that you have and see what the other treatment options are.

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j_nail Spokane, WA(Zone 5a) Oct 03, 2008

Just in case you miss it, I posted a response to your inquiry in the thread about insecticidal soaps. I answered it there before I saw this post, oops!

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Oct 04, 2008

If you will be treating this tree with insecticides, I would forgo the butterfly garden at this point. Look to see how long the insecticide is effective, and plan for the butterfly garden AFTER it has lost its power.

Which insecticide has been suggested?

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