From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Garner, NC

So, I now have my manure spread, about 4 to 6 inches deep over each bed. I found several grubs while spreading, so I'm sure there are more. So, here is my question, if I apply grub-x and wait for a rain, it should kill the grubs, but will it kill any good bacteria that's in the manure, I think the active ingredient is merit.

2/4/2013 7:49:42 AM

Bethlehem CT

It shouldn't hurt the fungi or bacteria, only insects.

2/4/2013 8:53:27 AM

Linden, Mi.,

If you use it, you may want to think about eating your fruit.
But check on this through other growers and labs.

2/4/2013 3:09:49 PM

Garner, NC

Thanks Guys, will nuke this weekend.

2/5/2013 10:59:49 AM

The North Coast

I did some looking around on if merit would work in your case and came across this article.

http://askville.amazon.com/long-scots-grubex-kill-grubs/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=1850023

2/5/2013 11:49:35 AM

Garner, NC

Great link Nate,so it seems to be a waste of time and money for now. Would Diazinon be harmful to the bacteria or fungi? if not, I could probably spray that now if we get a warm spell.

2/5/2013 12:30:39 PM

The North Coast

The lower article said that the large ones you find in the spring are pretty much finished eating (getting ready to morph into a beetle). It is the newly hatched grubs that feed heavily on roots. Thus the recommendation is to use merit in July on turf grass. In a nut shell, they may be ugly but pose little harm and I bet they dont stand up well to a tiller.

2/5/2013 1:04:50 PM

Garner, NC

Main problem I found Nate, is the moles, they love to feed on them, and anything I could do to deter them would be great. So now, I am a little unsure if I should treat or not. Man, this melon growing is tough!

2/5/2013 1:58:47 PM

Piqua, Ohio

I let my chickens in my patch til I start setting fruit. If there's bugs and grubs they find em!

2/5/2013 4:23:09 PM

Bowdon, GA

Moles also hate castor oil. My local hard ware store sells a concentrate you can run through the drip. Its the only thing I have found to keep field mice out.

2/5/2013 6:20:17 PM

Muddy Waters

I found a way to keep the moles out of kin cave.I laid weed barrier all around the outside of the melon cave & kin cave.I wanted to keep the weeds down outside even though it was un planted ground I never saw a mole tunnel inside except near the exterior walls in one or two isolated areas.In the fall when I rolled up the weed barrier to store for the winter.I found the mole tunnels everywhere under the weed barrier.So I'm thinking they stayed under the weed barrier & didnt stray far from it.So lay weed barrier around your melon exterior patch,If you find them congregating under that treat the weed barrier only & kill them there.The moles are after worms there main diet is worms not grubs.I'm good with the moles staying under the weed barrier.This year I will set traps on there tunnels under the barrier.

2/5/2013 7:01:14 PM