Lawn Care: Nematodes

[Gate_of_Horn]

I've moved from an Apt. to a house and I'm on the hook for lawn maintenance now. I've gotten the mulching mower, I'll buy a weed whacker next, and a few lighting solutions are under review. Problem is, I've found several ant mounds and I don't want to step in them everytime I mow. I have pets, so Diazanon and other chemical solutions worry me. I've heard of Nematodes as a possible alternative, but I was wondering if anyone here had some experience with them and would care to comment on price, efficacy, safety etc.

 

[Hornin NYC]

Loopy says they work great.

I'd ask him.

However, he's a hippy.

 

[Mack Tripper]

Moved into my new house less than a month ago. After the first week, I applied nematodes and there are no signs of ant mounds. Cost for an application about 3 or 4 times the size of my yard in the Houston Heights was less than $30. Another good thing is that they last much longer than insecticides. If more ants try to sneak over from another yard, they will eventually get eaten by the nematodes.

 

[OrangeTaintedLuv]

Where would one purchase nematodes?

 

[Pimpology]

Isn't a nematode like a hookworm or tapeworm, where if you step on them barefoot their "spores" or whatever can get in your GI tract?

 

[Mack Tripper]

There are 100s of types of nematodes. The ones you use for lawn care purposes are microscopic and are safe for humans and pets.

You can get them at many gardening stores, plant nurseries, feed stores, etc. I got them at Wabash on Washington Ave. in Houston, but Loopy can tell you where to get them in Austin.

 

[tropheus]

how do microscopic things kill or prevent ant uprisings? Are they like a disease to the ants or something?

 

[bikerack]

Nematodes

 

[TEXAS1026]

my dad uses nematodes to control our ant problem, and they have been successful. The ones we use are harmless because they are microscopic parasites that only attack the ant larvae because you only put them on ant mounds. They won't harm you or your animals.

In Austin, we go to Jim Dromgoole's (sp?) Natural Garden on Old Bee Caves Road off Southwest Parkway (turn left on Travis Cook then right on OBC if coming from MoPac/290)

 

[Campus Loop(y)]

I too got my 'Todes from John's The Natural Gardener. The Link

Great place, they are full of inforamtion and know their stuff out there. He also has a tv show on KLRU/PBS and a radio show or two on KLBJ. Good stuff.

Nematodes also control grub worm and helps w/ fleas as they attack them too. It is wonderful to watch a new ant mound try to set up shop in the yard and then get taken out. Suckers.

I am entering almost a year and a half from when they were put in. No fire ants. Nowhere near the flea troubles my neighbors have either. Great product. F chemicals.