Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Wednesday - March 09, 2011
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Grubworms in Austin Flower Bed
Answered by: Brigid & Larry Larson
QUESTION:
How do I get rid of grubworms in my flower beds?ANSWER:
Hi Ladies! Mr Smarty Plants is happy to hear from you!
Grubworms seems to be the topic of the moment around here. I was listening to the weekend gardening radio shows and I think each of the hosts had a question about burgeoning populations of grub worms.
My favorite answers that I heard were to dig them up and feed them to the chickens and/or use them for fish bait!
More seriously, Mr Smarty Plants has a good prior answer to this question. It can be found here. In that, they recommend the City of Austin publication "Earth-wise Guide to Lawn Problems". I also found two A&M references, one to their fieldguide website and another to an excellent publication. I also found two good discussions on the web, one from life123.com and one at gardeningknowhow.
Of course, we have a go-natural bent. All of these publications have treatment with beneficial nematodes as a preferred treatment. Follow the application directions given, but be aware that these living creatures need careful treatment. At the store they should be kept in a refrigerator to extend their effective lifetime. When you apply them, the flower bed should already be watered [1/4-1/2”] and the nematodes should be applied in the late afternoon to evening so they aren’t cooked by the sun before they get into your soil. Once there though they make life difficult for the grubworms! Two other recommended natural treatments are a bacteria called “Milky Spore Disease” and applying Neem oil.
Good Luck getting rid of those grub worms!
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Trees and shrubs turning brown in Dripping Springs TX
October 31, 2011 - Due to the extended drought - a number of trees and shrubs in our Dripping Springs area property have turned brown. Specifically: Live Oak; Agarita; Ash Juniper; Cedar Elm. Is this a dormant stag...
view the full question and answer
Oak trees shedding leaves in Denton TX
May 27, 2012 - In Denton, TX we have two mature Quercus buckleyi. It is May 11th 2012 and one of these trees has been shedding green leaves for the last week. The only changes we have made are: planted English ivy...
view the full question and answer
Care for heritage roses
October 07, 2007 - Dear Mr. SmartyPlants, I took some cuttings from an antique rose my grandmother had.I had good luck , had some of them grow for me. Some of them have blooms and others are long and lanky stems but n...
view the full question and answer
Leaf problems on Cherry Laurel in Boulder City, NV
January 29, 2011 - I live in Boulder City, Nevada and have 4 cherry laurel trees. I'm having a hard time with brown leaves and loss of leaves. How much water should I give them each season? Temps run from 28 degrees to...
view the full question and answer
Pruning oaks in August from Pflugerville TX
April 30, 2011 - Can I do minor pruning on my Lacey oak and bur oak in August if it is hot and dry? I'd like to prune one limb from each. The Lacey oak limb is about 2 inches in diameter, and the bur oak limb is ab...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |