Thanks for your recent information regarding lawn fungus- we’re getting the PH tested before starting treatment to get the centipede lawn healthy first and then applying a fungicide.
I’ve also been advised that we have a local area on our lawn that has lawn pearls. I’ve seen them attached to the grass roots and I’m prepared to dig out the infected area and put in new sod but we need your advice as how to effectively chemically prepare the sandy soil area to prevent any possible pearl larvae, insects or pearl sacs that might still be in the soil from coming back and infesting the area again after installing the sod.
We appreciate any suggestions or recommendations that you might have, and thanks again for your help.
First, you’re welcome and we hope our advice is leading you in the direction you want to go regarding your landscape and pest control concerns.
Second, there is no need to remove or replace any of your grass if the main reason you want to do this is due to the ground pearls. In fact ground pearls are an insect; they fall into the “scale” family and are vulnerable to range of insecticides.
But before you treat, its important to understand that one of the most common traits we see with ground pearls is that they seem to really like soil with low PH levels. A log PH means you have an acidic environment so if you end up finding your PH is 6.5 or lower, this is where you will want to spend your time and effort: fixing the ph as explained in our article here:
Soil PH: https://bugspray.com/article/ph.html
In the article you’ll see us reference a PH METER and if you don’t have one, it would be well worth investing in one so you can check your PH throughout the year. Of all the things in your yard, the PH is the one variable that controls everything else. In other words, once it drops below 6.0, your turf will become weak and vulnerable to fungus, insects, weeds, etc. So if you want a healthy yard, you need to make sure the ph is kept balance.
Now once the PH is fixed, apply MAXXTHOR GRANULES at the rate of 2 lbs for every 1000 sq/ft and retreat once a month for 3 months. Maxxthor will control a wide range of insects using turf grass for nests including scale related pests.
Next, spray over the granules with MAXXTHOR EC. This needs to be done once a month too while you see activity. Use 1 oz per 5,000 sq/ft. This formulation is fast acting and will quickly knock the down the active scale but it won’t penetrate down deep like the granules so you’ll need to do both for long term control.
A good HOSE END SPRAYER will be needed to spray the Maxxthor. This one is easy to use; add 1 oz of Maxxthor and fill it up to the 5 gallon line. Next, hook it to your garden hose and spray the entire contents over 5,000 sq/ft.
If you’re PH is in the proper range, you should see improvement after 2-3 weeks. And after the second application, most problems will be resolved. After that, treat every 3 months with both granules and the liquid to insure they don’t come back. And be sure to check your PH at least once every 6 months.
On a related note, the products above are not labeled for use in vegetable gardens. Essentially they’re a bit too strong. But we have two options that are safe enough for use in vegetable gardens and yet strong enough to kill active ground pearls.
Like the approach above, you’ll want to first treat with a granule and but for vegetable gardens, you’ll need BIFEN GRANULES FOR GARDENS. Its about half as strong but still effective. Use 1 lb per 500 sq/ft.
Once the granules are in place, spray over the top with CYONARA RTS. Safe enough for use on vegetables and fruit bearing plants, Cyonara will work on a range of scale including ground pearl.
Just hook it to your garden hose and spray. One jug will cover up to 16,000 sq/ft so it goes a long way too. Treat every two weeks for two months to knock out the current problem.
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Dale McLamb says
As to Ground Pearls, according to the above as easy to control….my yard and my neighbors’ yard (across the highway) are infested to the point that hardly anything will grow–not even a healthy weed. This all has happened to my yard within 3 years..my neighbors in 10 years. I have centipede, neighbor is trying Bermuda. Mine is not as bad as his but “pearls” appear in spots all over the year where dying is occurring in circles. I have dug and found “pinkish pearls” and whitest eggs clusters. HELP!
Tech Support says
As explained above, the first thing you need to do is check the ph of your soil to make sure it’s around 7.0. Get a PH Meter to do the job; they are well worth the investment since they can be used over and over and if your yard is susceptible to any kind of PH change, these meters will be something you’ll need for years to come.
PH Meter: https://bugspray.com/equipment/testing/phmoisturelight-probe
Now once you get a good measure of the soil PH (and/or your neighbors), email us the results and we should be able to further advise.
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Dale McLamb says
Neighbors yard is a pH of 6.5…has or is trying to establish Bermuda.
I have just placed an order for a pH meter.
Tech Support says
Once the PH is known to be 6.5, you can get control of this pest by using a combination of Maxxthor Granules and Cyonara RTS. Apply the Granules monthly at a rate of 25 lbs per 1/2 acre. They will slowly work their way into the soil and plants taking away key resources needed for the ground pearls existence.
And twice a month apply Cyonara RTS at a rate of 1 quart per 10,000 sq/ft. This will work on the exposed stages providing fast control but not totally effective unless its used with the granules.
Follow this treatment schedule and you will start to see improvement after 1-2 months of treating; after 3-6 months the problem will mostly resolved.
Maxxthor G: https://bugspray.com/insecticide/granule/maxxthor_sg.html
Cyonara RTS: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/cyonara-32-oz-rts
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Dale McLamb says
Thanks for the feedback…..will try this approach.
Dale McLamb says
Can the Cyonara RTS be purchased in a concentrate? I have a large yard to apply this. Thanks
Tech Support says
Yes. In fact if you’re treating 1/2 acre or more, the concentrate is definitely the way to go because it will save money. So for ground pearls, you’ll need to apply 5 oz per acre. This works out to 1 oz per 8,000 sq/ft. And a good sprayer for the concentrate is our 6 Gallon Hose End Sprayer. Here’s how you’ll use it.
Put 1 oz of the Cyonara Concentrate in the 6 Gallon Hose End. Fill it wither water, hook it to your hose and spray the entire amount over 8,000 sq/ft.
Here are links to these in our cart:
Cyonara: https://bugspray.com/insecticide/liquid/cyonara
6 Gallon Hose End Sprayer: https://bugspray.com/equipment/sprayers/gilmour-6g-385
Cheers,
Jonathan
Customer Care
http://www.bugspray.com
770-985-9388
1-800-877-7290
Joshua says
Hi I have ground pearls how do you get rid of them is killing my grass
Thanks
Tech Support says
Joshua,
Just scroll up. Our article above lists the products you need to get from us. Basically applying the granules and spray will kill it off, very easy to control.
Technical Support
http://www.bugspray.com
Kay says
Are there any grasses with resistance to ground pearl?
Tech Support says
Kay,
Sorry but no. In fact its not the grass that dictates or controls ground pearls but rather the soil underneath. Make the conditions unsuitable for the ground pearls to survive in the soil and you won’t get any growing. More details on how to do this are in our article here:
Ground Pearls: https://bugspray.com/ground-pearl-control.html
Juanita says
How do I get my PH level to 7.0?
Tech Support says
Juanita,
Our Soil PH Control article explains how, you can read up on what you’ll need here:
Soil PH: https://www.bugspray.com/article/ph.html
Technical Support
http://www.bugspray.com
Mary Lou Scott says
Now I know what is wrong with my lawn! Though relatively small it would be great to have it look better as my neighbor spends a fortune on her lawn. Thank you for all the info and putting me in the right direction. Fingers crossed.