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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:52 am 
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Location: Kaufman area
We live in Scurry, which is about 60 miles SE of Dallas, on about 5 acres and have a problem with moles. Apparently they are here because of the grub worms in the soil. I don't want to kill the moles, so I need to get rid of the grubs. How can I do this cost-effectively for a large area? Also, is the anything that would work as an "all-in-one" for grubs/fleas/ticks/mosquitos/spiders/scorpions? Thanks so much- Melissa Miller

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:33 pm 
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Location: Dallas,Texas
Mole Scram works: http://www.green-living.com/pestcontrol.aspx


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:12 pm 
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beneficial nematodes applied to your soil will help with your grub, ant, flea..problem.

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:45 pm 
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"All in one" products are generally a dangerous way to go, because they are broad enough spectrum that they take out a lot of the critters also deemed beneficial, to say nothing of the risk to people and pets.

If you visit the Dirt Doctor library and look up each of these bad actors, you'll find some treatments that might overlap, some kill, some repel, and some you might learn to live with (spiders and grub worms - most of them are harmless or are beneficial).

Beneficial nematodes, orange oil, garlic, cedar chips, Abamectin, they're all probably things you'll need to look into.

Good luck!

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:03 pm 
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I am not trying to disrupt the natural balance of things, but the grubs attract the moles that have taken over our yard for 3 years (deep holes and mounds everywhere), and since I don't use toxic products on my pets, either, I need to control fleas and ticks and mosquitos as best I can. The spiders (have you lived in the country?) and the scorpions (again...), yeah- those I don't want in the house, thank you! Melissa Miller

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:29 pm 
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Yes, I have lived in the country, all over the country, as a park ranger (interpretive naturalist) so I maintain a steady interest in a lot of the critters out there - and the ones I don't want to find in my shoes or food.

The grubs are going to be there anyway - tackling them is going to be the hardest and most disruptive approach to your problems - better to try the mole scram to get rid of the mammals than try to disrupt something so ingrained and widespread in the soil as grubs. Most of the grubs are harmless to your garden anyway.

I have outdoor dogs on a very large lot adjacent to hundreds of acres of prairie and riparian wild area. I use Revolution as a monthly medication application on the dogs because it not only protects against heartworms, it repels ticks and fleas. I've never had a problem with either using this product (put it on the dogs' skin where they won't lick it off once a month. There is also a formula for cats.) I order it online from Canada without a prescription because it is a lot cheaper that way. The products like Advantage don't treat for ticks and fleas, but it is what vets want to sell now because it is Rx only and there is a big profit on it. (Sorry to say, but this is so - so I had to break with my vet's current recommendations for the expensive product when it meant I also had to do something else for fleas and ticks. This same vet provided Revolution for years, when there was still a big profit to be made. I called around - it seems to be the same everywhere.)

Garlic powder sprinkled around the house (there is a video of Howard piercing the sealed cover of a 1 gallon sized garlic powder container and using it like a huge salt shaker) is excellent for repelling mosquitoes. Here is more on garlic from the library. You sprinkle it every 3 or 4 weeks in the worst season and I'm still using the same container I bought last year.

Like I said, go poke around in the Dirt Doctor Library and find the fewest number of ingredients to do the most good in your yard and it will be better for all of you. Anything that does it all in one is put out by Ortho and requires a Moon Suit to put on and renders your yard a toxic wasteland.

P.S. Beneficial nematoes will do ants, fleas and some grubs. BTI (Israliensis - sp?) works on mosquitoes in water. Use BT sparingly, it is hard on butterflies. Don't broadcast it.

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Last edited by northwesterner on Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:13 pm 
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Thank you for the info, but I have to say- for someone so eco-conscious about putting toxic chemicals in the soil, you sure are oblivious to the fact that you're doing the exact thing to your pets by using Revolution. Here's a link if you're interested...
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/RawC ... sage/33218
P.S. We'll try the mole scram
Melissa Miller

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:18 am 
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Not oblivious at all. It's all about choices. The Revolution is a product that Howard has looked at and recommends, but I used for years before he addressed it, so it has two votes of confidence. Here in the south, heartworm is prevalent, and if you've ever had a dog with heartworm, you know it is worth the small risk to use something like this.

I don't think much of Yahoo chat as a source of medical/science information, and that link requires I sign up for the chat before I see the link, so I'm not sure what you linked to.

Being organic doesn't mean you always get the fastest result, though you might sometimes. You do get a more environmentally responsible result, and a more ethical result. You have to pay more attention, and get your ducks in line as you plan ahead to keep your garden and the surrounding environment healthy. It's a global program, not just a one-off answer to individual problems.

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:40 pm 
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I, too, live in the South and have a dog who had heartworms when I found and rescued him. "Two votes"?- The point of the Yahoo groups that I belong to is to gain as many opinions and experiences from people all over in order to make my own, informed choice. Since you are not a member and can't read the posts (which is interesting that you could make a comment on it's validity anyway), I've attached a link from a veterinarian, who is not affiliated with any Yahoo groups, on the subject. I'm obviously not here to debate this issue with you, but since you said it's all about choices- At least you also have this to add to your information for that choice. It's all about information, for me. Thanks for your concern. Melissa
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/he ... ntrol.aspx

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:43 pm 
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I work in a university library and teach people about evaluating sources. Yahoo is a lowest common denominator site, lower-tier, like Wikipedia, or even Google. Evaluating the validity and veracity of results usually means throwing out most of them. I'm aware of Mercola, and I'm aware of the arguments about pesticides and pets. And yes, two votes. Revolution is the one Howard recommends, and is the one I had already chosen.

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:26 pm 
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We have been using Revolution on our two cats for almost 2 years now and no side effects that we have noticed except for no more fleas, ticks, or endless scratching on their parts! Our Vet highly recommends it and besides, it is one of only a few products that also protects cats against heart-worms. Many people do not realize that cats can get heart-worms and they are not curable.


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:43 pm 
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I used Revolution for several years as well- on my 7 cats and dogs. The original point I was trying to make was how surprised I was that someone enlightened enough to know better than to put toxic preparations in the soil would be less inclined to do the same for pets....There are other, non-toxic ways to build a healthy pet, should one be compelled to research and get the facts that most traditional vets are less than forthcoming about. Just an observation, really. Good luck to you and your pets. Melissa Miller

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:57 pm 
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Melissa, instead of all the links & fussing, could you post the info you believe in on how to prevent & cure heartworm problems? Same with ticks, fleas, etc.

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