Sept. Landscape Thread - Changes to make now!

[Sirhornsalot]

Carpenter ants: treat the periphery as I have (seems to have been effective thus far), consult arborist (sounds really pricey!), scream at them?

I emailed the below to you earlier.

Here are a few options. These are products made especially for carpenter ants. I will add that if you treat your lawn for grubs in June using a product like Arena or one with Lamba and Mallet, you’ll not have ants. Arena kills 22 other pest aside from grubs, including ants. Listed in order of how effective I think they are.
 
 
Termidor SC (liquid) - Kills termites and carpenter ants. Treat by spraying known problems areas. Exterior use only. 20 oz bottle runs about $50.
 
Suspend SC (liquid) - Kills termites and ants, including carpenter ants. Exterior use only. 16 oz bottle runs $37
 
Adonis 2F (liquid) - 27.5 oz bottle $35
 
Temprid SC (liquid) - Same active ingredient as Suspend and Adonis but also with Beta-Cyfluthrin so it can be used on other pests as well in the landscape. 240 ml bottle - $65, 400 ml bottle - $72.50
 
While those products are designed for spot treating, they can be used to broad spray areas of the lawn and beds. Using any of the above products will not only address the carpenter ants, but will knock out any termites that might be in the area, too.
 
If you want to perform a granular application on the whole lawn, I would recommend applying either Merit, Arena or a Lamba-Mallet combo. The Merit is the most expensive at about $75 per bag. The Arena is about $50 per bag (many say its as good as Merit) while Lambda-Mallet would run about $35 per bag.

 

[drgilbert]

SHA have you ever used dry oatmeal on any colonies? I have used it a couple of times with mixed results

 

[Sirhornsalot]

SHA have you ever used dry oatmeal on any colonies? I have used it a couple of times with mixed results

No, haven't tried that. However, I neglected to mention that Diatamaceous Earth will also kill ants of all kinds as well as roaches, fleas, and even scorpions. But it's not something you'd want to put on the turf. I lay down a three inch wide strip around the perimeter of my home. I reapply after any rain event.

 

[MikeV73]

I emailed the below to you earlier.



Here are a few options. These are products made especially for carpenter ants. I will add that if you treat your lawn for grubs in June using a product like Arena or one with Lamba and Mallet, you’ll not have ants. Arena kills 22 other pest aside from grubs, including ants. Listed in order of how effective I think they are.



Termidor SC (liquid) - Kills termites and carpenter ants. Treat by spraying known problems areas. Exterior use only. 20 oz bottle runs about $50.



Suspend SC (liquid) - Kills termites and ants, including carpenter ants. Exterior use only. 16 oz bottle runs $37



Adonis 2F (liquid) - 27.5 oz bottle $35



Temprid SC (liquid) - Same active ingredient as Suspend and Adonis but also with Beta-Cyfluthrin so it can be used on other pests as well in the landscape. 240 ml bottle - $65, 400 ml bottle - $72.50



While those products are designed for spot treating, they can be used to broad spray areas of the lawn and beds. Using any of the above products will not only address the carpenter ants, but will knock out any termites that might be in the area, too.



If you want to perform a granular application on the whole lawn, I would recommend applying either Merit, Arena or a Lamba-Mallet combo. The Merit is the most expensive at about $75 per bag. The Arena is about $50 per bag (many say its as good as Merit) while Lambda-Mallet would run about $35 per bag.

Got the email, need to review and make a decision on what I will use. Is it costly to get these products shipped to the Austin area via your operation? I will scan the info and email back to you with any questions or items I want.

Thanks again Mark

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Got the email, need to review and make a decision on what I will use. Is it costly to get these products shipped to the Austin area via your operation? I will scan the info and email back to you with any questions or items I want.

Thanks again Mark

Didn't know you are in Austin. I can have it dropped off at your door in most cases here in Austin. So no, no shipping costs there. The only hang up is that I have to bring it down from Dallas if I don't have Darrell McPhaul stocked up with it here in Austin.

 

[MikeV73]

Didn't know you are in Austin. I can have it dropped off at your door in most cases here in Austin. So no, no shipping costs there. The only hang up is that I have to bring it down from Dallas if I don't have Darrell McPhaul stocked up with it here in Austin.

In Leander, close enough to Austin. Again, will get back with you once I have a chance to review your options. Life needs to slow down so I can take better care of my yard!

 

[Sirhornsalot]

In Leander, close enough to Austin. Again, will get back with you once I have a chance to review your options. Life needs to slow down so I can take better care of my yard!

I have about 20 customers in Leander/Cedar Park right now. Getting you what you need is not a problem.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

FALL COLOR - MAPLES, RED OAKS, CHINESE PISTACHE, ETC

A quick helpful hint . . . . We're a little dry up here in DFW right now. Really no measurable precip for September. Other places like Austin have had plenty though.

Either way, if you're in an area that hasn't had much rain and you happen to have deciduous trees in your landscape (for the purpose of fall color) such as Maples, Red Oaks and Chinese Pistache trees - Make sure they are getting plenty of supplemented water. Otherwise, your fall color show will be a letdown. In some cases, the leaves will drop before turning color.

Keep their root balls moist and you'll get that good fall color you were hoping for when you bought the tree.

BTW, do NOT fertilize your deciduous trees right now. They are going through some natural chemical changes in preparation for dormancy. High doses of fertilizer (nitrogen) will interrupt that process and the color change as well.