Nematodes are said to be one of the most diverse type of creatures in the world. In fact, these are so diverse and vast that the scientific community is still trying to come to terms with exactly how many species of nematodes really exist and is still trying to classify them. Nematodes can be found in nearly every life form, right from marine to freshwater sources to soil and the earth’s crust. In fact, nematodes make up for an astounding 90% of living forms present on the ocean’s floor. There are also different types of nematodes; broadly, they can be parasitic or non-parasitic. Some are parasitic for plants while there are some that are parasitic for animals and even humans. However, the non-parasitic ones have proven to be a big boon for the gardening industry. How? Let us see.
Beneficial Garden Nematodes
As mentioned above, there is a select type of nematodes that are non-predatory in nature when it comes to plants. These same nematodes however feed on the parasites that kill plants and so, can be used to get rid of these parasites that cause damage to plants. One of the most common plant predators is grubs, which are basically larvae of June beetle and Japanese beetle. This is a small ‘C’ shaped creature which feeds on the roots of grass, causing widespread damage and often ruining complete lawns as well. There are a few nematodes, which are commonly called garden nematodes that kill this pest. They enter the digestive system of this pest from the soil and then internally weaken it till it dies. What’s more, the nematodes tend to leave their host and move on to another host before the previous one dies, thus, killing many grubs at the same time.
Where can I Buy Nematodes?
While many people tend to breed nematodes on their own, the way to do this is complicated and since these worms are microscopic, it is impossible for you to actually know whether or not you have been successful in breeding them. Hence, it is always best to obtain them from seasoned horticulturalists or from organic pest control firms that offer small packets that contain about fifty million live nematodes at a time. You need to get these nematodes home and then water your soil thoroughly and make it wet. Once this is done, you can spray the nematodes from your hose end sprayer or if the area you are treating is limited, you can use a can sprayer. Hence, there are many ways by which these nematodes can be used for best results.
Beneficial garden nematodes are an excellent way of dealing with grubs. However, you need to know that these aren’t really 100% effective against grub, especially if the grub is fully grown or has stopped feeding. Hence, always be sure to act on grubs when they are still in their initial stages and are feeding heavily. Also, keep your lawn healthy at all times by tending properly to it, to prevent such problems in the future.