octaneman

I got a horde of grasshoppers that have invaded my vegetable garden and they're eating everything in site including the lawn. I traced the infestation to a vacant property lot next door that has weeds grown 3to4 feet in height and with the recent humid weather lately it has exasperated the problem even worse. I'm no expert in garden pest control,if anyone has exprience with these things and knows how to nuke them without destroying the environment, please advise, I would appreciate it very much.

Basementgeek

Doing just a simple google search, it appears they are very hard to control when they are in the adult stage.

If you are looking environmently friendly check out a product called "NoLo"

http://www.biconet.com/biocontrol/noloinfo.html

But since you need quicker action, check out "Sevin" bug spray. I think I would try both.

Your best bet is to treat early , with other products, next year to control them when they are very young.

BG

octaneman

Thanks BG

The NoLo looks to be an ideal product in the long term I'll definitely use it, but like I said in my previous post the infestation comes from a vacant lot and these darn things just migrate over. I will need a radical solution to effectively wipe out the infestation and bringing in a company to do it will cost hundreds of dollars ( clearing someone elses weeds isn't an option either) which they will most likely use the same off the shelf product with just a higher lethal concentration. I looked into the Sevin spray and it's listing doesn't include grasshoppers even though it advertises that it can kill a hundred or so insects. You're right, so far everyone I've spoken to said also the same thing that treating early will help control these things , but it's past that point. Now, after all the work and spending a few bucks in preparing and planting this years vegetable garden, I need to do something quick before these things take it all.

Basementgeek

The only thing I have seen is to cover the plants with Metal window screen,.

I would spray the sevin every where, including the lot next door, weeds and all.

BG

pat mcgroin

If you wont get into any trouble I would look into some roundup vegatation killer.
Just put it on the end of the hose and kill a 10 - 15 foot area on the other side of the fence to create a buffer. They should stay in the grass or at least most of them.
Be very careful to make certain that the wind is blowing away from your garden and dont spray within 5 feet of it.

Basementgeek

I truly think you could get into trouble killing off the grass/weeds.

BG

octaneman

I'm not worried about getting into trouble BG, the infestation problem has spread to other lawns and gardens, and land owners who's gardens are bigger than mine are ticked off. After doing a little research, the vacant lot was to be developed by a contractor and the lot is under dispute.

Will post further developments.

Pat: Some home owners who's property is adjacent to the vacant lot have done exactly what you have suggested. I will attempt to create a buffer, but I'm not sure if it will last.

pat mcgroin

Something else I thought of but I dont know if it will work.
If and when you kill the grass try to put a bag of powdered lime on the dead areas.
Dont worry the lime is good for the soil but I think that the PH will bother the grass hooppers and they will stay away.
Apply it thick enough so that it looks like a powdered doughnut.

BTW I use the lime in my yard all of the time for a moss problem and the grass never looked better and I seem to have a lot less bugs..

If you really know the neighbors have them all get some roundup and kill the entire lot. Ha Ha.
or is it?

octaneman

Update:

Pat, the lime buffer you suggested worked decently well, it kept other insects from infesting. Unfortunately, I should have done this from the beginning when the infestation started. The application of the lime was too little too late, and this year's veggies were almost a total loss. There is a bright side though, with your suggestion I'll be better prepared for next year, and the good news is the contractor finally finished building its housing project where the lot stood and wiped out the remaining grasshopper population.


Thanks for the input guys, it worked well.

pat mcgroin

Good News.
You still may get some hoppers next year but they shouldnt be as bad.
Maybe some more lime next year to be sure.

The next issue you may have though is the possibility of ground animals coming around since their habitat was disturbed by finishing the project.
Blood meal around the perimeter usually helps with that. They can smell it but you cant and they dont like it. It is also organic and wont hurt anything.

Imranq

Set your vegetable garden on fire and regrow it. Just for the lulz.

Basementgeek

Imranq:

I assume that was just a joke.

Many places that would be illegal to do. You know many places have laws concerning open burning as it is fire hazard/pollution concern.

BG

Imranq

Yeah, it was just a joke.