Pesticides

Though synthetic pesticides are prohibited, many organic and environment-friend alternatives exist.

Some problems can be prevented simply by changing the way you garden or by physically removing the pest. For example, pulling weeds by hand is an effective and safe alternative to using a chemical weed-killer.

When other methods fail, there are a number of products you may use, though they must be authorized by the Town. Our Green Line can offer alternative solutions.

First, try to determine how many ants you are dealing with and where they are located. A few ants around your patio or the occasional ant inside your home are normal occurrences and pose no threat. More often than not, ants enter homes in the spring and summer in search of food and soon leave. To control this minor inconvenience, try placing small ant traps (5% Borax) around entry points to your home.

If you are finding many ants in your home, around exterior storage areas or in your lawn, garden or driveway, there may be a nest nearby. Don’t keep rotting wood, compost bins or refuse near your house because they can serve as a breeding ground for hungry ants. Also, store all food products in tightly sealed containers.

White grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles; the most common species in our area are the Japanese beetle and the European chafer. They have a year-long life cycle that begins between late June and late July, when adult beetles lay their eggs in turf grass. Once the eggs hatch, the grubs feed on the grass’s roots, causing damage to your lawn. During the winter months, the grubs descend deep into the soil and wait until spring, when they resurface to feed on shallow roots. The larvae enter their pupa stage in May and emerge as adults in June.

Getting rid of white grubs is a multi-step process. As always, the best strategy is prevention.

• Avoid lighting your yard at night and keep the mowing height for your lawn at 8 cm.
• Avoid overwatering your lawn during the late spring and summer.
• Incorporate white clover into your lawn. White clover is toxic to white grubs and stays green even during droughts.

Having a healthy lawn with deep roots is also important because it will be more resistant to white grubs. Good gardening practices such as aerating your soil, adding compost, fertilizing, reseeding and mowing high are all part of an effective prevention strategy.

The following document will help you in your fight against white grubs.

The fight against white grubs