A lot of people enjoy taking care of their lawn and gardens but are unsure of all the different organisms that live in your lawn and garden. There are many different organisms that inhabit your lawn every day and some of them are good while others are bad. If you have ever heard the name Milky Spore but are unsure of what it is, here is a guide to inform you of what Milky Spore is and how it helps your lawn.
Milky Spore is a product which acts as a protective layer on your lawn and is a safe bio-pesticide that kills Japanese beetle eggs also known as grub worms. Milky Spore might also be referred to as “Milky Spore disease” which is a bacteria that when ingested will kill grub worms. Milky Spore is something that the Japanese beetle bugs will eat along with your grass. The bacteria given off in the Milky Spore will make the grub worms very sick and kill them within three weeks. The Milky Spore will continue to reproduce inside the insect and then it gets released when the body of that insect decomposes. Milky Spore is a very safe and effective way to kill off grub worms from your lawn but it can take up to a year before you see a big difference.
Milky Spore is a host-specific pesticide which means it will only go after the grub worms and not other living insects that feed off your lawn. Milky Spore gets its name due to the fact when the bacteria is ingested and working, the tail end of the grub will turn from black to a white milky color. The Milky Spore is a naturally occurring event in nature which is why it is safe and very effective at killing off grub worms. The use of Milky Spore to eradicate grub worms is only effective if you have at least 10 grubs per square foot. If you use the Milky Spore in an area where there is not a significant number of grub worms, the treatment will most likely not work because it will be too spread out. Unlike other pesticide treatments to kill grub worms, Milky Spore is safe to other insects, pets and people which is why it is one of the best treatments you can use to ward off grub worms. The Milky Spore works best in a ground that has a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Milky Spore is non-toxic to humans and there are no known side effects or warnings to using it but you should always take precautions when using pesticides. Be sure you have a mask on and gloves when you use Milky Spore because although it is non-toxic it is still a pesticide and should be taken seriously. When you use Milky Spore for the treatment of grub worms, you do not need to apply it every year because just one dose of Milky Spore is good for about 20 years.
There are two different versions of Milky Spore you can get at the store for about 20 dollars. One version is the powder which comes in cans and is a one-time application. You need to measure out teaspoon amounts throughout your yard every four feet. Each area where you put down the Milky Spore can generate about 100 million spores. The other version of Milky Spore is in a spreader mix bag and this is applied with a spreader through each square foot of your yard. The spreader mix uses about six applications to become the most effective and should be done in the spring and fall for best results. Milky Spore is a dry treatment and should not be mixed with water. You should apply the Milky Spore to a dry lawn and wait until you have had a good rain to soak in the Milky Spore before you mow your lawn again. When you use Milky Spore you do not need to worry about environmental hazards either which is also a great benefit. Milky Spore does not become damaged by environmental weather changes such as a freeze or a drought. So there are a lot of benefits to using Milky Spore in the protection of your lawn from grub worms and Japanese beetles and since it is a naturally-occurring pesticide you do not have to worry about buying chemicals.
