Horticulture Hotline 02 22 21
Bill Lamson-Scribner
When I went outside yesterday and it wasn’t raining, the first thing that grabbed my attention were all the birds singing. Just that one half day of sunshine we had last week brought out all the walkers and people commenting about the sun. Everyone seemed so happy. I don’t know how they do it in Washington state.
With people getting their preemergent weed control out, I have been asked this question several times: does preemergent weed control get washed away or does it need to be re-applied because all the rain - Big No.
Preemergent products are broken down by microorganisms - it does not leach through the soil (like fast release nitrogen or potassium). Its control will be affected if sitting in a big puddle of water for an extended period. You shouldn't have to re-apply.
Although this is the Horticulture Hotline, I decided to write about entomology (insects) today. Instead of the Horticulture Hotline, I’ll call it the Entomology Swat Line. With the cooler, rainy weather, the old cockroach has found its way into many Lowcountry homes. Contact your pest management company if you have a contract or consider getting on a contract or if you do not like dealing with cockroaches. If you are a die hard do-it-yourselfer, here are a few tips that will make your battle a little more effective.
Treat your outside perimeter. A band about three feet from your house generally in the mulch is a good place to start. A granular product like Bug Blaster or Bifen sand in the mulch beds surrounding your house will help kill the roaches before they get inside your house. A NOP (National Organics Program) organic product that is very effective is InTice Perimeter Bait. Using a spray around windows, doors, garage entry, and any other entry point to your house will also keep them from entering your house. EcoVia is a NOP product you can use around the outside and inside of your house.
Underneath your house, consider dusting with a boric acid product. BorActin is a NOP product labeled for this or you could use the InTice Perimeter Bait. These products will last a long time in the crawl space of your house because they are away from sunlight and moisture.
In your house, consider using InVict Gold Cockroach Gel. InVict Gold is a fast-acting bait that has our customers at Possum’s singing its praises. The bait products are great because they move throughout the roach population. Maxforce Gel capitalize on roaches’ nasty habits needed to survive, making these products very effective. An immature roach has to eat the fecal pellets of the adult roach in order to mature into an adult roach. Roaches also cannibalize each other. By using this bait, you get a domino effect by the little roaches eating the fecal pellets of an adult that has consumed the bait. When one roach dies from the bait, then another eats the dead roach, it will also die. In wall voids you can also use InTice Perimeter Bait.
There are many good aerosols that come with a long straw that are designed to be sprayed in cracks and crevices. Now there is a good selection of “green” aerosols to choose from along with the old standbys. If you treat the outdoors and use a gel, an aerosol application probably will not be necessary.
Definitely consider using a growth regulator to help lengthen your control of the roaches. Generally, growth regulators are very safe to humans if applied properly, and some will also help with fleas (Nylar). Growth regulators will keep roaches or fleas from reproducing; therefore, breaking up their life cycle. Fleas like damp moist areas, so they should flourish this year.
Knowing where to put these products is crucial for the success. Always read, understand and follow the product label. There are also many pest control companies that are well established in this area and are very capable of taking care of any of your uninvited guests. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, this article should help and the products suggested should work well.
