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| SpittleBugs in Centipede Grass https://www.dirtdoctor.com/efl/dirtDoctor/spittlebugs-in-centipede-grass-t22595.html |
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| Author: | Jess00064 [ Sun Jun 15, 2014 3:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | SpittleBugs in Centipede Grass |
My spittlebug population is steadily increasing. What can be done to remedy this? |
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| Author: | northwesterner [ Sun Jun 15, 2014 5:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SpittleBugs in Centipede Grass |
Describe your yard for us, is it organic? Where are you, what is your soil type? Do you have an irrigation system? How often and how much do you water? Post photos please - "spittle bug" could be any number of things. (To me it says aphids, but I don't think I've ever seen aphids in grass). |
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| Author: | Jess00064 [ Sun Jun 15, 2014 6:11 pm ] | ||
| Post subject: | Re: SpittleBugs in Centipede Grass | ||
We are in the process of changing to organic. Last non-organic application was Scott's weed and feed in march. Soil is mostly clay. Yes we have an irrigation system. Currently set to manual due to showers we are getting. It's been raining roughly 2 days a week for a few hours. Sprinkler has only been on when plants start to wilt. We are located in Spanish fort al. About 30 miles from the gulf coast.
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| Author: | northwesterner [ Mon Jun 16, 2014 8:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SpittleBugs in Centipede Grass |
I will offer some general information that may or may not take care of this particular beetle. If you have been using chemicals then the soil isn't healthy and pests can have a population explosion because things are out of balance. There is a remedial prescription for "sick trees" that would work for your lawn - just don't do the tree part (unless you have sick trees in your yard!) http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Sick-Tree-Treatment_vq4586.htm Steps three through five will help get your lawn into a healthier place. Once your soil is healthy you'll find you are less likely to have blooms in populations of pest insects because the natural predators are present. If you could only do one thing, then spread the dry molasses, but if you can do at least one application of the zeolite, greensand, lava sand, and cornmeal you'll give your turf a boost. The sick tree treatment is meant to be performed more intensively than you might want to do for just your lawn alone. If you spray monthly with the compost tea (there is a commercial version called Garrett Juice) your lawn will be more resistant to pests. Here are some of the recipes for homemade organic products, including garlic pepper tea, compost tea, Garrett Juice, and the vinegar and orange oil herbicide that has become very popular. Rather than focus on that one insect and look for a product to kill it, look at that insect as a harbinger of a problem in the lawn or garden that can be remedied with an overall organic treatment. With the rain you're having, you may at some point decide you want to spread an application of beneficial nematodes. Don't it in the sunshine or heat of the day, it needs morning or evening coolness and moisture so the nematodes can get into the soil. They'll eliminate the larval stages (in the soil) of a variety of garden pests including cutworms, fire ants, hornworms, various beetles, and more. See the package instructions for how to apply for various pests. |
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| Author: | Jess00064 [ Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SpittleBugs in Centipede Grass |
Thank you. |
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| Author: | user_48634 [ Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: SpittleBugs in Centipede Grass |
One of the problems with the chemical program, a problem that is rarely discussed, is that the bugs that come into a non-organic yard are covered in chemicals and not tasty to the predators. After you get a few applications of organic fertilizer on the yard, and after the insecticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers have dissipated or been decomposed, the predators you will see returning to your lawn will be birds, lizards, geckos, and toads. You can bring in birds faster by setting up a bird bath, bird feeder, or bird houses. They will make fast work of the insects and leave behind droppings which are very helpful to the lawn. |
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