flea/tick/ant controls

[mrkosar]

Anyone use any natural products that control any three of these or all?

[jeffinsgf]

guinea fowl. A pair in your yard, and no more ticks.

[Daner]

LOL Be Prepaired for a lot of Bird noise,With the Guinea Hens

[Shades of Green LService]

Anyone use any natural products that control any three of these or all?

http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/index.html
gonna try this this year. Will have to wait and see
-Jay

[mrkosar]

shades,
i was thinking about trying that out this year also. anyone have any opinions or experience with that stuff (mosquito barrier)?

what about deer scram, i think it is called? supposed to repel deer and rabbits.

[lawnsbytim]

Lesco sells a organic insecticide that has capsaicin and mustard oil, which I have used as a contact control, but I do not know if it will work for ants.

[mrkosar]

Lesco sells a organic insecticide that has capsaicin and mustard oil, which I have used as a contact control, but I do not know if it will work for ants.

What does it control?

[mrkosar]

http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/index.html
gonna try this this year. Will have to wait and see
-Jay


i never got around to doing this. did you? so far?

[treegal1]

how about some good old DE that's a sure fire cure!

[Prolawnservice]

Yes DE would be good for ants but what about ticks?

[treegal1]

all crawling insects, it cuts holes and they dry out and die

[hunter]

What is DE?

[treegal1]

Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.

[JDUtah]

So between Chitin and DE, bugs are gonners... woot! :) JK

I just related the two because at first i asked myself.. is DE really just Chitin? But no...

[mybowtie]

Used to work for a chemical co. IIRC the bags of DE had a cancer warning on them. Big wigs at work wanted us drivers to wear resporator when handling bags. Dont think my customers would want this stuff on there lawns where there kids play.. Am I thinking of the same stuff????:usflag:

[JDUtah]

mybowtie,
Not sure. I can't say I have used it but the thought came to mind (which is actually a chemical applicator way of thinking)

Gasoline causes cancer. BUT society has developed a safe way of handling it and filling your tank that allows us to use it without harm (supposedly).

DE might be the same. The toxicity might be only through respiration?, so apply and water down and you are ok? Like I said I don't know... just wanted to post a thought.

[treegal1]

The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis. Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Food-grade diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica. Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with heat, causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form.

[mybowtie]

The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis. Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Food-grade diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica. Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with heat, causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form.

So the food grade is safer?? Where do you get the stuff??

[treegal1]

safer at home stores or for labeled pro use
http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/motherearth-diatomaceous-earth-p-410.html

most golf courses that we have seen , use the nasty stuff and water it in, bad practice in my book

[Yard]

Here's another on-line source
http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html

DE is very dusty, and like any other product that is fine and becomes airborne, it is a good idea to wear a dust mask when applying it.

[mrkosar]

what about ecoexempt? anyone use this?

[turf hokie]

I'll throw one out there, would this satisfy the organic model? OMRI listed.

http://pbigordon.com/pdfs/Azatrol-PIS.pdf

http://allaboutazatrol.com/about.php

http://pbigordon.com/pdfs/Azatrol-SL.pdf

This would be awesome to put in the toolbox.

[bicmudpuppy]

I like DE, I've never used enough of it to need to buy more than a large bag from a pool company or a big box store. I've never actually seen a label rate either though. For myself, for golf use, my primary reason for using DE is ants and to relocate worms from greens. I've always told myself that the worms "move on" vs dying. The guys on some of the golf sites that can recommend synthetics whose "side effect" is "no more worms" chaps me in all the wrong places. Angular sand works for to stop worm casts where I don't want them almost as well as DE, but can be hard to find in some areas.

It has been suggested that DE, if over applied can cause problems with soil drainage, etc. Again, I've never put enough on to worry about it. Is there a "recommended" rate for DE as an organic insecticide?

[NattyLawn]

For fleas and ticks beneficial nematodes have worked well for me. For ants, look into SharpShooter from St.Gabriel Labs.

[dishboy]

2% solution of dish soap has been reporter to control spider mites as well as other insects.

[bicmudpuppy]

2% solution of dish soap has been reporter to control spider mites as well as other insects.

Spider mites can be "controlled" with a simple syringe of the infected plants at the hottest part of the day. Daily for 4-5 days has the best results. I've had excellent success with this on burning bush, alberta spruce, blue spruce, muhgo pine, even junipers.