Once again I'm getting ready for the annual onslaught of JB's that devour and destroy many of my plants, veg as well as flowers. I'd like to hear from others who have applied the Milky Spore. I plan to buy a 20 lb bag tomorrow and either spray or spread it, according to the directions on the bag. About 6 or 7 years ago I applied some that came on a sponge, purchased from Garden's Alive. I can't say I saw any difference, but I held the sponge in the refrigerator for some time, waiting for the optimum spray time, so I can't be sure the fault wasn't mine. The 20 lb bag is $38. But with 6 newly planted fruit trees and multiple other plantings, I feel I need to give it a shot. I's appreciate any feedback from those who have used it. Thanks.
Results with Milky Spore on Japanese Beetles?
I have not used it, but even if it was 100% effective at killing the grubs in the area applied I doubt it would do much to protect your plants if you live in an area with a significant population of the beetles.
The JB have no qualms about flying to your garden from a property even a few miles away.
I am not saying to not do what you can to cut down their numbers, but unless your entire community does the same I think you would effectively just be removing a few drops of water from the ocean.
Sorry to not be more encouraging, 3 years ago the JB found my part of the world and have become an increasing problem with each year so I feel your pain.
Thanks for the input. I conveniently "forgot " to buy it when I was at the nursery this morning buying blueberry bushes and another apple tree. I will probably go ahead and give it a try. Other online research sounds helpful. Nearest neighbors are 1/4 mile3 away and nothing but forest between us, so maybe treating just my acre will reap some benefits. Gotta try something.
Rosemary, the milky spore won't stop the current crop of grubs from morphing into JB's (from what I understand). I was inundated with them last year. Later I found out that if you don't take a bucket of soapy water and pick them off at least daily (or more often), they invite their friends. They really do give off some kind of a signal, and the more JB's, the stronger the signal.
When they're up into the treetops, there's no picking them off.
LOL, that's true. I used a ladder to climb to the top of my 9' bean trellis last year.
Perhaps not many have used Milky Spore. Some report excellent results.
I used it on my daughter's front and back yard about 5 years ago. It was a JB magnet with the ornamental plum tree in front and the plum tres, peach trees, and hibiscus in back. I wish I knew how that worked out but the place was sold before I could evaluate the Milky Spore there.
Hi darius, You're right. I was just hoping to get a head start and start decimating the grubs. If I can get out early enough before it gets boiling hot, I will do the bucket of soapy water too. I've done that before, but only in a half-hearted way.
Indy, I read on other forums that some gardeners have had success in significantly reducing JB's, it apparently it takes several years for that. Nothing to lose but time and money, as usual!
Thanks to all. I'm going to give it a try along with the bucket method.
Rosemary
I live in an area where I do not control JB from the neighbors, but for the past 4 years have aggressively been collecting the beetles with a twice a day trip through the garden. Last year's beetle population was significantly less than previous, with an apparent decline in the problem here. I cannot reliably claim credit, but at least the vigilance is limiting damage from existing beetles. Having watched the beetles for years, I believe that they do not travel much typically, if there is a food or pheromone source in the area.
The price you quoted is really good, almost too good to be true - around here, you pay that much for about a quart.
Good luck in your quest!
Hi krowten, yes, I finally did buy the 20 lb bag at a local Ace Hardware. I haven't applied any yet. The clerk told me it need to be applied 3X, at month or two intervals. I haven't actually read the directions on the bag yet. The weather is supposed to get cloudy and maybe a few showers later this week so I'm waiting for that. I already have a mechanical duster I use for BT, so I'm hoping for the best. As soon as the JB's show up, I'm going to do my best to be vigilant about the soapy water in a bucket method.
Thanks for your input, let's hope for the best for all afflicted with these pests.
I'm interested in following your results. Here's what my supplier has:
Milky Spore Grub Control - A host specific bacterium that is effective against Japanese Beetle grubs. In their immature beetle stage, the grub enjoys feeding on grass roots. The spores that are applied to your turf are swallowed by grubs during feeding. It controls grubs for 10 to 15 years. As the grubs die they decompose and release billions of new spores. Rate: 10 oz. treats 2500 sq. ft. or 40 oz. treats 10,000 sq. ft.
10 oz. can, $28
http://www.7springsfarm.com/catalog.html#INSECTICIDES
I didn't have enough money when I recently bought amendments or I would have bought some...
This message was edited Apr 28, 2009 8:29 AM
Yardiac has 40 oz for $67.90 and 10oz. for $19.85..
Around here the JBs are in the soybean fields some too let alone yards.
http://www2.yardiac.com/show_category.asp?tgs=30532518:18845185&cart_id=&category=646
Hope no one is eating their lunch as I type this, but my little MaltiPoo digs up JB grubs and eats them! She hates dog food, but loves grubs - go figure! She will also pick her own asparagus, and I get a good laugh when she tries pulling up her own carrots!
I collect about 5 FULL quart sized jars of them last year. Some years are worse then other. Milky spore works but takes a few years to really inoculate your whole lawn. It won't stop your neighbors JBs from visiting. I like using the traps.
Edit of first line.
This message was edited Apr 28, 2009 7:58 PM
A few years ago I collected about 90 bags of JBs...about an estimated 280,000 of them.
I've had much fewer since I ceased using the traps.
I think the ideal is to find a bare parking lot somewhere within a mile or so and set up the traps there.
I would say that there are somewhat fewer here now from using the bags!!
I've read several places that using the traps brings even more JB's... so that correlates with what I also heard about the signals put out by them... the more JB's, the greater the signal.
A good forum to ask about how well Milky Spore works, is the ROSES forum. They talk about using MS all the time!
Thank you all again for ideas and comment. I did think of going to the Rose forum, maybe my next stop? Anyway, I looked over the bag and the directions are to apply it 3X a year, Spring, Summer and Fall, for 2 years. The reason the price seems so cheap is it is only 1% Milky Spore, the rest of the 99% is something called a diffluent. It's made by St Gabriels Lab in Orange,Virgina, (maybe not too far from you darius?) I need to wait for a rainy, or drizzly day. $38 three times a year is a lot but if it rids me of JB's, it's well worth it.
I planted an apple tree this morning and the soil in just that one hole had 3 JB grubs! Yuck!
http://www.milkyspore.com/companyinfo.htm
http://www.milkyspore.com/milkyspore.htm
It'll rid YOUR lawn of them but it won't stop others from coming in from elsewhere. The spore WILL prevent any from growing them down in your lawn as it kills the larvae.
I need to do my lawn one of these days...
My best price on Milky Spore Disease has consistantly been from ARBICO ORGANICS. I am presently about five years into my second whole property treatment. The first application started to play out for me about twelve years following the first application. The cost applied to ten or more years of control is the least expensive and the most effective.
The best way to use the hormone traps is to give them to your neighbors. They attract JB's to the property they are on.
Doc, Are you serious?? My neighbors don't grow the JB magnet plants. Also, they don't want the bother of daily trap management!!!!
The Milky Spore only works on the grubs in the ground. It takes a couple of years to establish. Yes you have to put it down 3x's a year for 2 years. Best just before a rain, so the spores are washed down into the soil. It will lower your own population of JB, but will not stop them from flying in. If you have a neighbor you don't like, hang the pheromone strip in one of their trees, otherwise, you just attract more for the surrounding area to your plot. On the trees, you can put a light Agribon netting over the fruit trees for the month that the beatles are active, I'm going to try that this year with my nectarines.
There must be something I do not know. My use of Milky Spore was a one treatment deal both times I used it the first and application year only. It came in a powder form and was placed checkerboard pattern by dropping a half tablespoon to the ground a step apart.
That's the way I did it too, docgipe.
I think the idea is simply to inoculate your soil with the product. Different companies may have arrived at different methods to accomplish that goal. And my thinking as to 3X a year, too much work and expense. I think 2X a year, Spring and Summer will get similar results and save me a few bucks.
You may be correct. In that case I would strongly advise you to follow the instructions on the container, package or associated literature. You are using a product specific only to white grubs. Their larva create literally millions of additional spores and continue to maintain fresh spores as long as larva are present to be biologically attacked. MilkySpore harms nothing else in your soil, you or your pets included.
Comes in 20 lb bags, covers 7000 sq ft. $39.99, was 29.99. Went up this year. I've covered both the garden and the orchard. Followed the directions, used a spreader. I have noticed a slight decrease in the numbers, but will try other methods too.
Oh that explains it but unless there is a bunch of filler in the bags I see no reason for re-application. Guess there has to be filler to use a spreader. Better broadcasting would surely be a factor using a spreader. Seems to me the effect should be faster and more consistant. Using the cost factor the bagged product appears to be containing about one third the Milky Spore product thus maybe the need for more applications.
We are in a small....relatively small people population and do not see all of the products the higher population areas sometimes see. If I want to see more and different products and plants too we need to shop closer to the larger cities and merchandising areas.