Nematodes and ticks?

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by GSDguy08 on 21 June 2012 - 18:06

I have a few questions on nematoes. Does anyone on here use them, and how do they do in regards to keeping the yard from having ticks? What about if you have fields around your yard (the yard is fenced in) where the grass is grown up high in the summer for hay. Will the fields have any affect on them, letting ticks and other things get in the yard? The ticks this year have been ridiculous, not on my dogs, their preventatives seem to be working very well. All I have to do though is go do something in the yard, and I come back in with a few ticks on me. Anyways, does anyone have experience with using nematodes?

by beetree on 21 June 2012 - 18:06

The tall grassy meadow is tick heaven....IMHO.

When you are you talking about nematodes... there are good ones and bad ones. The good ones for the lawn are supposed to go after grubs etc.... not ticks. Check this out: http://greenmethods.com/site/shop/buy-bugs/3/

This might help you with landscaping for tick management: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/in_the_yard.html

by SitasMom on 22 June 2012 - 01:06

shrubs, low trees are also tick heaven..they especially like shade.

by leeshideaway on 22 June 2012 - 03:06

There are very many kinds of Nematodes.

I tried some 3 weeks ago that state they work on ticks and fleas. (and grubs)
I got a combo pack at http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/beneficial-nematodes

So far - asian beetles from grubs - I have only seen 2 - last year there were hundreds by now.
I haven't seen any more ticks yet but it might be still to soon to tell.

Lee

by leeshideaway on 22 June 2012 - 03:06

I forgot to say that it is better to use them when it is not hot and dry. (spring, rainy period, fall)
Instructions say to keep the soil moist for a few weeks after applying.
I've been watering.

by beetree on 22 June 2012 - 12:06

I just read from that link (leeshideaway) about using them for ticks. I never hear about using them for ticks in CT, the land of abundant, Lyme-infected ticks. I think that is because the correct nematodes would only be affective in the tick larval stage, underground. I'm thinking that would be a small population of ticks, but a greater population of grubs and it says, fleas. I would only bother when the weather just turned to warm.

Knock on wood, but fleas are one thing I don't have. Milky spore is also good for going after grubs, but it takes longer to become established in a lawn.

by starrchar on 22 June 2012 - 15:06

I've used beneficial nematodes (from Arbico) for years to prevent fleas and I haven't seen a flea for a very long time, but I didn't find the nematodes to be effective with ticks. We had a tick problem this year for the first time in 15 years. I tried all the natural stuff first and unfortunately we had to go with something stronger. I hated using pesticides, but we had no choice.

by beetree on 25 June 2012 - 11:06

GSDguy08, I have found if you are the "leader" in a group, you will trigger the jump response of the ticks, and the dogs if they are behind you will be glad you did. Especially this time of year when all the little nymphs are awakening, and they are very hungry.

This happened to me once. I must have had 50 ticks in my hair. I never lead the hiking path for anyone any more. Oh, this was a while back, I believe I even had a curly perm, it was an awful, awful experience. I'm still not over it.

by mollyandjack on 25 June 2012 - 12:06

Ticks can only crawl - they can't jump. You have to brush against them directly. I haven't had success with nematodes...that's why I'm getting some guineas.

by beetree on 25 June 2012 - 12:06

Wrong, they jump, or spring is more like it. It is the motion that sets them off.

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