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http://www.grassclippings.co.uk/grassclippings/2013/04/eu-ban-prova...
Chloryphirifos is still available.....
AND P.S....treat them now, don't wait until Spring. Damage will already be done.
It's a hard sell to a domestic client to treat before they see the damage.
You need to explain the truth. They are best treated when the larvae are small. By Spring (if you have them) the chemicals struggle to kill them.
Leatherjackets are controlled best when they are vulnerable. After hatching in approx Sept, they will trun from eggs fairly soon after and normal window can be any time from Nov-Jan.
My book will tell you all a bit more, so you can even show your customers.
Its not really a hard sell......prevention is almost the only way to sell it.
You may not have them....you may not get them......
Top turf people treat them as a prevention as a cure is not always possible, and the damage can already be done.
Its the truth, so should be an easy sell.
Hi Andrew,
The ban on the use of Neonicotinoids – Imidacloprid in particular, which came into force 30 Nov. 2013 did not include any change in approval for use in Amenity situations. It only covers the use of these products in Agricultural and Horticultural situations, eg: crops, fruit, etc – either as a seed treatment or foliar spray.
Merit Turf containing 5g/ KG is still available and approved for use until 31/12/2021 on: ‘golf courses, bowling greens, athletic fields, commercial and residential lawns and other managed amenity turf situations’
The following is an extract from the draft text by the European Commission demonstrating their intended end-users:
“Foliar treatments with plant protection products containing clothianidin, thiamethoxam or imidacloprid should be prohibited for crops attractive to bees and for cereals with the exception of uses in greenhouses and uses after flowering. Crops which are harvested before flowering are not considered attractive to bees.”
Merit Turf (a professional use product) should be applied in late Spring/ summer for Chafer Grubs and late summer/ autumn for Leatherjackets. @ a rate of 100g per 100m2. Applications now would suffer due to saturated and waterlogged ground.
Applications of a Chlorpyrifos product, eg: Pyrinex (480g/L) - can be made to permanent Grassland and managed Amenity Turf – but it is less effective when the grubs are not actively feeding, ie: very cold/ frosty conditions.
I hope this helps - it looks like there's still something out there for you. If you need any further help feel free to get in touch.
Professionals use Chlorpyrifos for leatherjackets, due to its effectiveness and cost.
Merit actually controls both, if timing issues are suitable (almost never)but is far more expensive even though its application rate of 30gms/m2 is low.
It also requires a specialist applicator as pretty much ALL spreaders will not go down to that rate. (Scotts professional drop spreader will but costs £600 circa)
Whereas Chlorpyrifos, is applied through a knapsack or pedestrian sprayer at 1.5 Litres/hectare-water volume to suit.
The equivalent of Merit was allowed to be sold in garden centres, but due to the ban on farmers using it, many garden centres and such like, decided not to sell.
Thanks for informative replies . I have clients who used GT to treat Leatherjacket infestation and they seem to do it throughout the year - when it seems that treatment is most effective in the Autumn. Those who missed this window just wondered what the best course of action would be early Spring.
Now, now and now!
Grubs are right size for chemicals to work!
As long as its sprayed correctly that is!