Soil Insecticides Do You Need During Planting?

If you do not want to use a pesticide, digging up your garden several weeks before planting will help reduce soil insects.

Many insects such as wireworms, white grubs and cutworms are often found in soil where grass has been grown.

Unless absolutely necessary, do not plant vegetables in soil that has been in grass during the past two years. If you must plant in grassy areas, such as your back yard, you can get better results by applying an insecticide for wireworm and white grub control. Diazinon is recommended for this purpose.

Diazinon forms…

There are several forms of Diazinon. One is a 4% dust which should be applied to the soil at a rate of 1 and 1/2 Ib. per 450
square feet. You may also use Diazinon as a spray. The amount to mix with each gallon of water is six tablespoons of a 2E formulation of 8 tablespoons of a 50% formulation. In either case, use one gallon of mix to cover 1,000 square feet of garden area.

Regardless of the formulation of Diazinon you purchase, you should make your soil treatment two weeks before planting. Mix the treatment into the upper 3 to 6 inches soil.

If you do not want to use a pesticide, digging up your garden several weeks before planting will help reduce soil insects. You can reduce insects further by digging up your garden in the fall.

For further information on use of an insecticide before planting, contact your local County Extension Office.