On 26 Jun 2004 08:07:47 -0700, (germ) opined:

I did not ask this question to start a war. Pesticides have their
place. I prefer to use as few as possible. I spot treat for weeds
with a hand sprayer, cut the grass long, and only use organic
fertilizers on the lawn. The problem is my lawn is in very poor
condition. (I got it in this condition.) I guess I agree that I have
a marginal grub problem, but the lawn was already open and patchy and
it is getting worse as the grubs concentrate on the once healthier
areas. I am actually kind of peeved that I have had to use three
different poisons on my lawn and still with no results.

So maybe you need a fourth. Try using beneficial nematodes. I guarantee if you
water properly, stop using pesticides, and use certified organic fertilizer with
a nice top dress ONCE with about a fourth inch of compost you will get rid of
the problem. If you recently used pesticides, all three of them, nematodes will
most likely be killed.

Oh, you didn't start a war. You got very thoughtful information from several
people, both synthetic and organic remedies.

All that 'escapee' wrote is true, but as a pesticide it NEEDS to have
those properties. Just like a gun would not be a gun if it did not
kill. As for why Diazinon was banned. Newer research found that it
might be a special hazard to children. Under new EPA regs, to keep it
on the market manufacturers would have had to do new expensive tox
studies. The margins were just not there for the product. So they and
the EPA signed consent decree to phase out residential uses.

The fight to remove it from the market went on for a really long time. There
are superior remedies which have been outlined here. You tried using synthetic
pesticides by your own admission and have not had success. You used three
types. Doesn't that tell you something? You are literally killing everything
useful in the soil. If you had the biota which a healthy soil has, this problem
would not exist.

Quoting the EPA: "EPA is conducting a review of diazinon as
part of its effort to address the tough, new
safety standards established by the 1996 Food
Quality Protection Act...
This action adds a greater measure of
protection for children by eliminating the most
important sources of children's exposure."

Yeah, so doesn't that bother you? All some of us are saying is that you are
killing your soil, and your turf is not recovering because of it. There is a
wonderful book called Secrets to Great Soil. It's one of the best books on
soil, particularly for people who don't want to read lengthy blather which makes
no sense. Maybe your library has it.

Victoria

escapee wrote:

Do you think they outlawed it because of it's greatness? It is a neurotoxin and
can kill you, cause cancer, and a whole host of other neuro diseases. How silly
people are.


I think they outlawed it because stupid people were spraying it on
golf
courses (against the label directions) and killing people, or
broadcasting it by the hundreds of pounds on their lawns whether they
had grubs or not and contaminating the ground water. I don't think
they
banned it because I use it once or twice every July to spray my apple
tree to prevent apple maggots because malathion isn't strong enough.
(it
is listed for this.)

Bob



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