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This is a concern. I am involved with the turf care industry and currently, there is only one chemical - Carbendazim - that can treat casting worms.
If that is withdrawn, which is likely at some stage, then turf professionals will really struggle to maintain turf.
Worms cats are an ideal weed seed bed, the soil clogs up machinery parts and wears blades and bearings not to mention upsetting the roll of the ball and messing up shoes and clothing.
We are considering trials using Garlic extract as a worm control.
Because it is classed as a food agent and perfectly natural, there is no risk to the environment, operator or anyone who comes in contact (unless you are allergic to garlic I guess)
From my personal point of view, as a gardener agronomist and human being : man,environment is the base for everything.I used lots of all these common things when I had to as that the way the system work.
But I found that there are so many ways to deal with things so there are solutions.
Sadly I feel like It is not enough done and we all as public are not aware of research (there is lots) of how things effects our life. the amount of terrible death cases from many materials that proved as causing cancers for example but public doesnt know about it. or lets even think about say it in a possitive way how many things to improve indoor and outdoor environment that easy to do and most of us are not aware.
please dont get me wrong - I am not saying to anyone how to live -and I can say that I dont even live as I think we all should (But I do feel like doing some crimes for not making a change).and hope to make it soon.
And about gardening Plants (and most creatures) have lets say for the example something like smell coming of them that most of the pests and fugues can ''smell'' were are the week plants and than to attack them. So result is that strong plants that were planted in the right place got a good chance not to be attacked by these pests.
You mentioned herbicides, For that there are many mechanicals solutions so as a gardeners we may have more work(great thing for the economy).
Roses I used to clear from leaves about 10 inches from the ground upwards. and the first part of every stem( + all the regular pruning for roses) thats reduced humidity and amount of fungus and pests on It.
And If there was only tiny bit on the roses -so thats fine - they are all God creatures(as they say in church). Another thing to try is sprays of seaweeds- these are giving plants extra strength by adding the same hormones that plants have in nature- It can cover what the sun make to plants sometimes and creates wonders: like thick cuticle (the skin of the plants) that help them to be pest resistant .(usually its happened with the sun effect, but ten days of cloudy sky and plants get softer.
Another miracle it can do with some plants is creating flowers (again, naturally It is happening from the sun effect). I sprayed it on plants that on plants that didn't get enough light and they all bloomed few weeks later. I know many very modern 'farmers that used it to dabble their yields on growing pepper.
After all ,as I say it is my own opinion, I hope my English wasn't too bad.
All the best
Ofer
dont panic yet about chemicals,there is always a new one around the corner ,just weaker and dearer.
i saw roundup 1 ltr for over 20 quid in a garden centre,we pay £40 for 5ltr of roundup. pro-biactive.
if you can,set up an account with an amenity supplier and you should save pounds,or get friendly with a golf club and order through them if you can.dont forget the safety data sheets for all the chemicals you use,you can download nearly all off the internet now.this includes oils/wd40 etc
Seems nuts to ban Glyphosphate because, on a scale of 1-to-something, it must be one of the safest herbicides used, and has a long enough track record for unexpected side effects to have come to light already - notwithstanding Bill's headaches, which I have personally not heard of before (but doesn't surprise me, I have a relation who is highly effected to petrol vapour and finds filling up the car a significant problem, so I consider that such "allergies" exist, and are probably a sign that the rest of us are effected too, just don't show it)