Curl grubs and diatomite

[Jamie]

should do a test..

find the biggest ugliest curl grub you can, pot it in with the crappiest, ugliest struck cutting that would never work as bonsai that you can find, and see how ya go with it in diatomite.

jamie

[Glenda]

Nice grubs .. we//I get 'em that big down here in melbs too...
.. however i have only ever noticed them in my wisterias and willows ...
maybe they prefer the 'damper'//wetter soil mix....
Have recently moved to using a 50% + mix of Diatomite, so will be interesting to see if they return...
BTW - my fox terrier loves 'em too.... however oscar the benign maremma just simply isnt interested...

They would be too small for a maramma to even notice. Do your kids ride? My friend has two and her kids did when they were toddlers.

Glenda

[deepeetee]

Hi all,

Im relatively new so please excuse my ignorance.

I was just wondering after reading this thread, if the forum is categorically saying that diatomite stop curl grubs.

This morning i quickly checked on a Prunus that was looking quite ill (i thought my newly inspired feeding program, may have been a little heavy for this particular plant), i quickly scraped off the top layer of soil and everything looked relatively normal, beside the curl grub and its brothers and sisters further down in the pot, wishing me good morning .

All of my trees that i have repotted go into a soil, diatomite and sand mix. All of the pots sit on planks in an unused garden bed 200mm off the ground.
The trees bought from a nursery are usually given a little time to adapt (i live a block back from the ocean and the onshore salty breeze needs adjusting too) so they remain in whatever mixture the nursery uses until the appropriate repotting time for that particular plant arrives.

These particular curl grubs were in a nursery stock that had not been repotted. And i dont think the soil mix had diatomite in it

My questions are as this is my first encounter with curl grub
* Are we certain that diatomite stops the curl grubs?
* If curl grubs are in one tree, would it be a good guess they are more than likely in something else with a similar mixture?
* Is the burnt leaf of the plant, the best indicator of curl grub
* If the diatomite does not keep them at bay, what is the best insecticide to prevent curl grub?

Sorry for the long winded message

Thanks in advance
Dave

[NBPCA]

The most obvious sign of bad curl grub infestation is when the tree falls over from no roots. Otherwise wobbly tree; churned up surface.

Does Diatomite stop curl grub infestation? No, I doubt it.

I don't know of anything that can prevent curl grubs but there is a spray or drench if you wish to go that way.

Best thing is to do a light repot and get the buggers out of there once you are aware.

I have not had any curl grubs for many years but have only started using Diatomite; so no direct link there.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Sorry double pressed submit button

[kcpoole]

Hi dave1
Curl grubs are my favourite topic I hate the bastards!
I have lost quite a feww trees because of them as when i used to use Ray Nescis bonsai mix, i woud find infestations in Just about every pot i had.
I used to Dunk and soak them regularly, and my best trees I dunked every 2 months When I repotted my English Oak it was still infested withthem and the tree died the next year

Since then I have repotted every tree into Diatomite Zeolite mix, and I have seen 1 curl grub on any of them in 5 years. That one was on in the surface leaf mulch and had not gone down into the roots and mix

can I categoricaly say the diatomite wil stip the grub? No.
Can I say that i believe Diatomite stops the grub ? Yep
Should every one else who suffers from the grub use diatomite like I do. Not really unless you want to move to an inorganic substrate, but I do recommend adding it to your mix as several people at school that now do, also have not seen grubs in their pots since starting to use it.

Ken

[deepeetee]

Thanks Grant and Ken,

Categorically was probably a little bit forceful. From what i have been reading, the diatomite in the mix may not prevent curl grub, but there seems to be a consistant theme from a number of users experience. I also must admit, that the plant and mix was also from the same place as Ken's.

Im assuming a light repot, means to be as gentle to the root system as possible, and probably prune back as little as possible of the root system. Take away as much of the soil (with water?) and replace with fresh soil? Sorry for the mundane, boring questions

Regards

David

[NBPCA]

Thanks Grant and Ken,

Categorically was probably a little bit forceful. From what i have been reading, the diatomite in the mix may not prevent curl grub, but there seems to be a consistant theme from a number of users experience. I also must admit, that the plant and mix was also from the same place as Ken's.

Im assuming a light repot, means to be as gentle to the root system as possible, and probably prune back as little as possible of the root system. Take away as much of the soil (with water?) and replace with fresh soil? Sorry for the mundane, boring questions

Regards

David

No need for water. Light prune and poke around to make sure you get all the grubs out.

Grant

[kcpoole]

No need for water. Light prune and poke around to make sure you get all the grubs out.

Grant

Just make sure you check under the base of the tree trunk or hiding in big hollows under any big roots.

Ken

[dragon]

guys
it is funny you are talking about curl grubs in your pots,the only reason i found it funny is
i never have had a curl grub in any of my pots but the wife found them in her vegi patch
and in her rose's so dont ask me why they just hate my bonsai
cheers dean the terror

[NathanM]

Dean, out of interest mate, do you use diatomite in your soil mix?

[dragon]

hi nathan
i use a normal bunnings bonsai potting mix it is in the green bag i dont remember name of it
but i can honestly say i have never had a curl grub in any of my pots but the wife has used coles potting
mix in her vegigarden and they seem to love that garden
cheers dean the terror
no diatomite