Does your lawn look like a war zone? Art’s Nursery has a natural answer to the European Chafer and Japanese beetle invasion we have seen in the lower mainland over the past few years. Scott’s Grub BGon’s active ingredient is a bacterium found in our native soils. The official name is Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae strain.
Combined with regular lawn maintenance (see Dave’s not so secret lawn strategy), this broad-spectrum grub insecticide is very effective. Use Grub BGon as an eradication or preventative. Remember to keep your lawn cut at 3 to 4 inches so that the female beetle will have a much harder time navigating though grass blades to lay her eggs in the soil.
Apply in April / May and again at the end of July through to September when the beetle’s grub is actively feeling. They ingest the bacteria and parish.
Juicy grubs are irresistible to scavengers like crows, raccoons and skunks, who tear our lawns apart looking for a tasty meal. Grub BGon is not toxic to the wild animals that eat them, or to our family and ourselves. However, always read labels carefully and use eye protection, gloves and a dust mask.
Although this product is organic, be aware of using this product near aquatic habitat. If runoff due to a slope is a concern near a waterway, plant a strip of vegetation. This will absorb the bacteria before it enters a stream. Let the dust settle for 4 hours before letting your children and pets play again.
This product has been used successfully with the Japanese Beetle outbreak that started in Vancouver’s David Lam Park. Now it is available to the public in an easy-to-use granular form. It’s even easier if used with one of the Scott’s hand spreaders.
We all reminisce of our yards in the past. With a little patience and work we can all have that beautiful lawn again. Planning and attention to detail can help us to achieve this in harmony with our environment. Let’s do it right.