Milky Spore Lawn Spreader Mix

I had no over-winter damage from animals digging up grubs and when I have dug in my yard this spring, I see little/no grubs. This stuff works and I'm anxious to see how long. The only thing that I would like is better application instructions, similar to those on fertilizer packages that list the spreader manufacture and spreader setting. That would make applying much easier and prevent waste.

I’ve tried traps, poison worms, and other grub killing insecticides to get rid of the moles in my lawn. I’ve just applied my fifth application of Milky Spore (one more to go in the summer),and so far this past winter and spring, no sign of moles!!Yes, it does take patience to see the effect of 6 applications over 2 years, but so far, it’s worth waiting. Plus, I like that it is organic and will stay in the soil for many years without additional applications ( I hope!)Easy to apply with a drop spreader and a little goes a long way.

Edit: 9/10/19I did not use Milky Spore this summer, nor any other product and still had a reduction of Japanese Beetles comparable to prior years.The point is is that the grubs get attacked by the spores and the spores multiply, thus more and more spores. I am a scientist type and an experimenter (and cheap . . .) so I figured the spores will likely multiply enough to cover the entire area. I may have even left some space between spreader rows, and went light on the application. Where do you live ? Do you got to 30 below zero and have up to 6 months of snow on the ground like we do ? Are your neighbors close and don't treat their lawns ? Seems the spores or nematodes I had used previously didn't all die off completely. Spores are tough, not uncommon for them to survive space. In fact some scientists posit that some life on Earth may have been seeded by SPORES FROM SPACE !!! . . . (Said deep and echo-y, naturally . . .)So did the Milky Spore survive the tough winter ? There was only minimal nibblage, not like a few years back when the beetles were everywhere ! Or did something else account for the reduction on these foreign invaders ? Possibly. More crickets and grasshoppers this year, and to me that's a good thing.Edit: 11/09/18I again used the Milky Spore this summer at less than recommended, later than I wanted to due to uncharacteristic dryness in the spring and early summer and am pleased with the results. Again, not eradication but reduction to about 20% or less of Japanese beetles. Last year was about down to 10%If your really want a natural, green, healthy lawn get this book: "Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web", Revised Edition. (I bought three from Amazon and gave 2 to science teachers, one who was doing an entire section on microbiomes. I've been working with the microbiome in my and others bodies for over 2 decades, why not my lawn ? . . .) The book is tremendous in explaining what the buggies in a healthy lawn do and why chemical fertilizers either kill or chase them away. Accessible for non-sciencey types. Visible bugs to tiny arthropods to bacteria and fungi (trillions of them !!!) all working together in a web for a healthy, strong, resilient "fish tank" for your lawn that supports the grass you want and inhibits other "weeds". I bought some fertilizer with microbes in it to inoculate my lawn (not sure I can mention it but it isn't hard to find) and my front yard looks noticeably better and is still really green with very little broad leaf grass unlike every year prior. I use no bag when I mow and I got no thatch this year. The clipped grass was being recycled. The acre + back yard that is all fill and not soil yet and doesn't really grow is greener and healthier. I'll await next spring to see if it was all in my head, due to the microbes, or due to a lot of rain in early August this year. Want another secret to a green lawn ? . . . Do a little research on urine and gardening . . .Original comment, Jan. 2018:Seemed to work in significantly reducing Japanese beetles. Being a natural guy I don't use poisons on my plants or lawn. I had used nematodes for several years prior which work great IF you get them down in time. But they are far pricier, and a little harder to apply. I used one 20 pound bag of Milky Spore spread out more than recommended on an acre and a half or so. That did what I needed. We will see what next year holds. i find it hard to believe that spores will die over winter even the 10 days of 0 to 25 below that we've just gone through. Yeasts/molds have been around for almost a billion years and have gotten the survival thing down. But we will see. I'll likely get another bag for 2018.Two notes: 1. Don't expect complete eradication. Natural remedies just don't do that. B. After using nematodes and Milky Spore I have FAR fewer grasshoppers and crickets than I used to, hence far fewer toads and garter snakes. I used to have so many that I had to mow for two days to let the little critters get out of the way. I looked up to see if either product had an effect on grasshoppers and crickets and didn't find anything about it so maybe It's a cyclical thing, or something else. But . . . .

This is my 4th summer in this house and every year is like the attack of the Japanese beetles! They go after my roses, garden and grape vine.Added milky spore to the yard w/ grass seed spreader after spring and have seen maybe a handful of beetles this year! Im amazed! Im not even killing them either, so they can spread and infect eggs for next year, maybe in the neighbor's yard! Will also apply 2nd coating in fall for added over winter security.Been weighing in on getting this for over a year and so glad I did!If you've got beetle problems, you'll love this stuff! Easy to use, safe, and doesn't attract them like the catchers do.

I have a terrible mole problem. It was recommended to put down milky spore to rid the grubs. The moles won’t have food and will move on-fingers crossed. This was my spring application using a spreader. Took more than I thought, and will need a fall application. I won’t know results until next spring, but the fact it’s organic and safe for birds, pets, and humans is a plus. Time your application before rain and it’s very simple!!

The way this works is by trying to infect lawn japanese beetle larvae with a bacteria which is harmless to humans and pets, survives in soil for years, and is lethal to the grubs. When grubs die and decompose, millions of new spores of the bacteria are released. 3 timed apps are recommended. After the first year (2016) and three applications, the japanese beetles were nearly eradicated the next summer (2017). But I think the second year of 3 applications is a must--and even a third. As well, do NOT skip LANDSCAPE areas since grubs are there as well and will not be killed unless you treat it. A bit more cost, but the "chemical" controls are not cheap and they must be reapplied annually in spring. Now (three years into the 3 app cycle), we did have a hatch--not bad, but still a hatch of maybe about a hundred beetles. Knew it because a few would end up in the pool. So don't let your guard down. Using it cuts down grubs but its not foolproof and still requires a thorough grub treatment (Grub Ex, Chlorpran) early on in the spring every other year or so to catch the larvae before they become fully developed. Stuff isn't cheap, but the headaches and a new lawn is $$$.

Over the years we have had sporadic problems with moles in our zoysia lawn. It is so disheartening to have our hard work ruined by these creatures. Various traps have not been effective so I decided to try milky spore disease to eliminate their food. Directions say to apply it three times a year for two years. So I know patience is required. I have applied it once this spring after having some mole damage and have seen no further signs. I placed my most recent order to make a second application and will do a third in the fall, and three next year in hopes of a long term solution. I know it's early, but so far, so good. The price will be well justified if the moles are truly eliminated from our lawn.