Well, we're going to continue that timing theme this week. But this time we're not talking about plants, we're talking about bugs. And not the good kind of bugs. There are two different insect pests that are very common in our area that it's time to get out in front of and treat for now before they do any further damage. So if you have boxwoods in your landscape, a lawn or both, you'll definitely want to read on.

 

Boxwoods, botanically known as Buxus, are an extremely popular broadleaved evergreen in the part of the world we live and garden in. And deservedly so. They are green year round, they grow slowly, they take well to shaping and pruning, and they are deer resistant. All of these attributes make them a top choice for use in our landscapes. But they are not without their fair share of insect and disease problems. This week we're going to focus on one of the most prevalent insect pests that love to get into your boxwoods, because it is time to get proactive and get after them before they do their damage.

 

We're talking about boxwood leafminers, known scientifically as Monarthropalpus flavus. These are tiny gnat-like flies that deposit their eggs in between the top and bottom layers of boxwood leaves. These eggs hatch and the leafminer spends the first half of its life as a very small orange worm, technically referred to as maggots, which is what all larval forms of flies are known as. And it's these small orange worms that we want to go after right now, because they're already in your boxwoods getting ready to turn into their adult flying forms. When that happens they will emerge from the boxwood, mate and deposit eggs in your boxwood leaves all over again, creating a never ending cycle of boxwood leafminers.

 

Although you can treat for this pest later in May with a spray when the adults emerge, we think it's better and more effective to treat now, with no spraying involved. Our go to product for leafminers in their larval form is Bayer BioAdvanced Rose and Flower Care. This is a granular product that contains a systemic insecticide that is applied around the root zone of the plants. Because it's a systemic insecticide, it will be absorbed by the boxwoods roots and sent through all stems and leaves, killing the leafminer larvae asora they feed. The idea here is to wipe them out before they emerge as adults. Bayer BioAdvanced Rose and Flower Care also contains a system fungicide, which can help to prevent boxwood blight later in the season, and it also contains a balanced fertilizer. So you're killing three birds with one stone here.

 

And of course if you're unsure if you have leafminers in your boxwood, just stop by The Gardener's Center with some leaf samples and the crew will be happy to help you with the diagnosis. 

 

A lush, vibrant green lawn is a top priority for many homeowners. And nothing can ruin a beautifully manicured lawn faster than grubs. It's time to get proactive here as well and get after these destructive pests before they do their damage.

 

Lawn grubs are the larval form of beetles, predominantly Japanese beetles and European rose chafers in our area. The grubs that are in your lawn right now began their life last July when adult beetles deposited their eggs in your lawn. They spent the later part of the summer and fall munching away on your lawn's roots, fattening up and growing before they burrowed deep in the ground for the winter. Now that temperatures and soil are warming up, these grubs are making their way back up to your lawns root zone where they will resume feeding and continue growing until they emerge as adults this summer. The idea here is to get rid of these grubs now before they turn into adults. This will help to break the seemingly never ending cycle of grubs. And right now is the perfect time and opportunity to do just this.

There are many products available to homeowners to control grubs in the lawn. But we carry only one, Phyllum GrubGone! We believe this is the best and only way to get rid of grubs effectively and more importantly, responsibly. The grub controls available at box stores and many other retailers are amongst the most toxic chemicals available to homeowners for residential use, and we are not a fan of these types of products. These types of products are known as non-selective insecticides.

Well, they're going to kill your grubs along with every other living thing in your lawn, including beneficials like earthworms and soil microorganisms that are critical to soil health. In addition to this they can be harmful to people, pets, other wildlife and the environment in general. We believe there is a smarter and safer way to get rid of lawn grubs, and that's Phyllum GrubGone! This is a natural and organic product that is selective, meaning it's only going to kill grubs. And if you have grubs, there's no reason to kill everything in your lawn. Phyllum GrubGone! works completely differently from non-selective chemical grub controls. Phylum GrubGone! is a biological insecticide. Its active ingredient, the stuff that's killing the grubs, is Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae, known as Btg, a living bacterial organism. And this bacteria is bad news for grubs, and grubs only. This bacteria makes the grubs sick, they stop feeding and starve to death. No poisons or chemicals involved. Just smart, biological science. Phyllum GrubGone! is 100% safe for people, pets, wildlife, other insects and the environment. It's so safe and natural you can even use it in veggie gardens if you've experienced grubs there in the past!!! 

 

Apply Phyllum GrubGone! now and again in mid August for safe, effective and responsible control of grubs.