Pill Bug (Roly Poly) infestation! Part 2. A solution to share with you!
We do believe that we found a solution to our pill bug/roly poly infestation. Thank you all very much for coming through on your advice and your direction, I knew I could come to you guys and get some solutions.
I really hope you try Sluggo. It wiped out the roly polies and earwigs in my old garden. And it's just iron phosphate so good for the soil when it breaks down. Edit: hehe I spoke too soon! Very glad it worked for you!!!
Whew….what suspense. Thanks for sharing these 2 products. Ok …here goes devils advocate…..do they lay eggs or how do the babies show up? How long does it take for them to hatch? Keep a hawk eye Jill….I know you are….I thought I saw little flames on the top of your cap…lol My head would be on fire too. Hang in there. You guys are doing a great job and give those chickens a high five. Jesus bless.
Jill, I’m sorry your garden is being attacked. I hope what you’re trying works and kills those bugs. I was reading an article that does say they will destroy gardens. They did recommend diatomaceous earth powder along with other non chemical things. The article is called 5 ways to keep Pill bugs from destroying your garden on Growing in the garden.
Wow! That sluggo is expensive in your area.There is a problem finding it in the stores( in my area) .When I can't find it I order from Amazon and its 24.95.
Iron phosphate is the only thing that works on everything. Squash bugs, earwigs, aphids, cockroaches… I was frustrated to the point of giving up about 3 years ago and skeptical of such an "easy" fix from my retired farmer husband. But it works. We buy it in a 5lb bag of little bb's and just scatter it through the beds like chicken feed. Our soil is apparently naturally deficient in iron (Sacramento Valley in California) so the plants are healthier because of the application too.
Hey Jill. Hope no damage from. Last night's storms. None here, just the tree blossoms!! I got 8 jars for today. Dill relish, hot dog relish, and lemon juice. I have 3 heads of cabbage…more sauerkraut!! Lol. Good thing everyone I know likes. Good luck on the pill bug mess!! Great vidro!! God bless.
Oh man! This video came just in time. I added new compost several weeks ago to my small garden beds out front. Pill bugs are chewing on my spinach & Swiss chard out there. I thought the unusual amount of rain California got this year had something to do with it, but now I think it’s the compost. At least I know how combat them now. Thank you!
I am with you on this project. Those nasty little bugs are not helpers. And they go all throughout the soil. They do love moisture. They congregate under my grow bags, too. I finally started picking them off just like you did, but by the time I got my plants up the grasshoppers took over and finished it off. It is just a battle.
In the north, we mostly find them along the foundation of houses, underneath boards or hiding places. I never have them in my garden. We do have some free range chickens and I am sure that is not hurting any. We do get slugs everywhere. Tons. They destroy everything. I finally had to buy slug pellets that keeps them manageable. I just started in my greenhouse at the beginning of the month and those darn dirt flies are showing already. This year I decided to go another route. I ordered ladybugs and am letting them live in there with my baby plants. Diatomaceous works really well on insects. It doesn't kill them instantly from my experience. It dehydrates them. We used it in the barn for flies, lice, fleas, ect. Good luck. Pests are such a menace!
When they invade my worm beds its an indication my bed went towards the acidic side. I add a teaspoon of dolemitic lime and within a day they are gone.
Looks like way to much work the little jars and beer is so much easier you wont be up able to see the beer in a couple days. Just don't dump them in the garden the beer will draw them away from your jars. A cheap six pack will fill a lot of jars and a lot cheaper than than diatomaceous earth.
That'd make me mad too-sure hope that works! I read up a bit, and perhaps coffee grounds around edges could help too. A single frog can eat 100 insects a night too. Last year, I had a little frog hiding in my raised bed so I added a little habitat for it so it could keep eating all the bugs it wanted. I never was sure if frogs were good or bad before, but for garden- very beneficial. They might attract snakes if there are a lot of them though, and if it's a toad ( not a frog) it might hurt pet if they try to eat it. I'm keeping my eyes out for pests better this year, bc I really want to grow tomatoes too! If that stuff works, then I'll know what to try. Good luck!
I have always had serious problem with pill bugs here in NJ. I understand your frustration with them. It’s so disheartening to have to replant over and over because of them! I think it’s interesting how so many “experts” say that aren’t a pest. Well they really are. They can take down small seedlings in about an hour. I found that Slug and Snail killer (organic product) does the job. But you have to reapply after a rain or when new seedlings are germinating. It’s a real battle. I’ll have to try DE and see if it is as effective. Hope you are successful!
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I really hope you try Sluggo. It wiped out the roly polies and earwigs in my old garden. And it's just iron phosphate so good for the soil when it breaks down. Edit: hehe I spoke too soon! Very glad it worked for you!!!
Whew….what suspense. Thanks for sharing these 2 products.
Ok …here goes devils advocate…..do they lay eggs or how do the babies show up? How long does it take for them to hatch?
Keep a hawk eye Jill….I know you are….I thought I saw little flames on the top of your cap…lol My head would be on fire too.
Hang in there. You guys are doing a great job and give those chickens a high five. Jesus bless.
Jill, I’m sorry your garden is being attacked. I hope what you’re trying works and kills those bugs. I was reading an article that does say they will destroy gardens. They did recommend diatomaceous earth powder along with other non chemical things. The article is called 5 ways to keep Pill bugs from destroying your garden on Growing in the garden.
Wow! That sluggo is expensive in your area.There is a problem finding it in the stores( in my area) .When I can't find it I order from Amazon and its 24.95.
I'm battling aphids. Tried about everything I can think of
So, do you think that the Sluggo did the trick or the diatomaceous earth? My bet is the Sluggo!
Iron phosphate is the only thing that works on everything. Squash bugs, earwigs, aphids, cockroaches… I was frustrated to the point of giving up about 3 years ago and skeptical of such an "easy" fix from my retired farmer husband. But it works. We buy it in a 5lb bag of little bb's and just scatter it through the beds like chicken feed. Our soil is apparently naturally deficient in iron (Sacramento Valley in California) so the plants are healthier because of the application too.
Mound that soil up higher on them tomatoes, Maybe you'll save them from them establishing more roots from the stem.
Hey Jill. Hope no damage from. Last night's storms. None here, just the tree blossoms!! I got 8 jars for today. Dill relish, hot dog relish, and lemon juice. I have 3 heads of cabbage…more sauerkraut!! Lol. Good thing everyone I know likes. Good luck on the pill bug mess!! Great vidro!! God bless.
Oh man! This video came just in time. I added new compost several weeks ago to my small garden beds out front. Pill bugs are chewing on my spinach & Swiss chard out there. I thought the unusual amount of rain California got this year had something to do with it, but now I think it’s the compost. At least I know how combat them now. Thank you!
I am with you on this project. Those nasty little bugs are not helpers. And they go all throughout the soil. They do love moisture. They congregate under my grow bags, too. I finally started picking them off just like you did, but by the time I got my plants up the grasshoppers took over and finished it off. It is just a battle.
In the north, we mostly find them along the foundation of houses, underneath boards or hiding places. I never have them in my garden. We do have some free range chickens and I am sure that is not hurting any. We do get slugs everywhere. Tons. They destroy everything. I finally had to buy slug pellets that keeps them manageable. I just started in my greenhouse at the beginning of the month and those darn dirt flies are showing already. This year I decided to go another route. I ordered ladybugs and am letting them live in there with my baby plants. Diatomaceous works really well on insects. It doesn't kill them instantly from my experience. It dehydrates them. We used it in the barn for flies, lice, fleas, ect. Good luck. Pests are such a menace!
Did the same afew days ago. Slowly, very slowly, gettin em gone 👍
And be careful Jill. They eat brains!!! My sister put one in her nose at about 3. Musta ate her brain, girl was dumb as a stump 😂🤣😂🤣
When they invade my worm beds its an indication my bed went towards the acidic side. I add a teaspoon of dolemitic lime and within a day they are gone.
Looks like way to much work the little jars and beer is so much easier you wont be up able to see the beer in a couple days. Just don't dump them in the garden the beer will draw them away from your jars. A cheap six pack will fill a lot of jars and a lot cheaper than than diatomaceous earth.
That'd make me mad too-sure hope that works! I read up a bit, and perhaps coffee grounds around edges could help too. A single frog can eat 100 insects a night too. Last year, I had a little frog hiding in my raised bed so I added a little habitat for it so it could keep eating all the bugs it wanted. I never was sure if frogs were good or bad before, but for garden- very beneficial. They might attract snakes if there are a lot of them though, and if it's a toad ( not a frog) it might hurt pet if they try to eat it. I'm keeping my eyes out for pests better this year, bc I really want to grow tomatoes too! If that stuff works, then I'll know what to try. Good luck!
Send in the chickens
I've had the same problem and that's what people told me too!! Hope you get them!!!
I thought those bugs ate dead stuff. Dang if it’s not the weather it’s the bugs.
hello from arlington XD
I have always had serious problem with pill bugs here in NJ. I understand your frustration with them. It’s so disheartening to have to replant over and over because of them! I think it’s interesting how so many “experts” say that aren’t a pest. Well they really are. They can take down small seedlings in about an hour. I found that Slug and Snail killer (organic product) does the job. But you have to reapply after a rain or when new seedlings are germinating. It’s a real battle. I’ll have to try DE and see if it is as effective. Hope you are successful!
So, did you use the Slugo stuff or did you stick with diatomaceous earth?
Maybe some Bt? I read some of the comments and saw that love cat had used Sluggo. Lots of wisdom and experience in this group.
Hope you guys are great