Combating pests naturally with nematodes

Not only do we enjoy our (vegetable) garden, but there are also many unwanted garden guests lurking about. Do you want an ecological approach? Then nematodes are the perfect solution!

What are nematodes?

Nematodes are tiny worms, only 1 mm in size and not visible to the naked eye. These nematodes can be used against all kinds of unwanted garden pests, such as grubs, leatherjackets, slugs, thrips and ants.

How does it work?

The nematodes will enter the pest insect and infect it with a harmful bacterium, causing the hosts to die within a few days. The nematodes will feed on the dead insects and continue to reproduce in the meantime. Their offspring will then attack the next generation of pests. This process continues to repeat itself as long as the desired soil temperature is maintained and the nematodes have sufficient food available. Usually, the nematodes begin to die off after about five to six weeks.

Attention: It is very important to use the right nematodes against the pest insects. Often, grubs are confused with leatherjackets. But both require a different kind of nematode to control. You can see the difference between grubs and blackheads here. Also, nematodes can only be applied at a soil temperature above 12 °C.

By using nematodes, you control the pest insects with their natural enemy. The other soil life in your garden is therefore not exterminated or disturbed. This way, your children and pets can also play safely outside. In general, we recommend soil treatments and leaf treatments to a lesser extent. The leaf treatment is less effective because you always have to hit the insects you want to control.

When do you apply the nematodes?

• Scarab grubs: August to September
• Leatherjackets: mid September to mid October
• Snails: mid March to mid October
• Ants: April to September
• Colorado potato beetle: April to September
  
  

How to use?

After you have received the nematodes, you should use them as soon as possible for optimum results. They are a living product so they must be transported cool and cannot be kept for long. However, Edialux has found a solution to this with its Nema T-bags. These are the well-known nematodes, but through cryptobiosis they have been put in a sort of "false-dead" state where their metabolism is temporarily switched off. The big advantage of this is that you can keep the nematodes longer and in non-refrigerated condition! By contact with water you get them out of the cryptobiosis and they come back to life.

The most important thing when applying the nematodes is the soil temperature. Most nematodes work best at a soil temperature of 12°C and above. Nematodes are therefore mostly applied between May and October but with a warm spring they can also be applied as early as April. The application period, however, is different for each type of nematode.

Step-by-step plan:

1. Check whether the soil temperature meets the conditions.
   
2. Make your soil moist: it is ideal to use the nematodes in rainy weather. The nematodes need water so that they can penetrate the soil along with the liquid.
3. Remove the nematodes from the packaging and mix them with the indicated amount of water. Make sure the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the watering can, so stir it regularly. This works best with a mixing device which is specially designed for the use of nematodes, such as the Birchmeier Aquanemix or Edialux Nema T-pot. This ensures that the nematodes are well mixed with the water and the nematodes do not get stuck in the nozzle. You can connect these mixing devices to the regular water hose.
   
4. Pour the nematodes over the surface to be treated.
   
5. Afterwards, ensure that the soil remains moist for a few weeks (at least two) so that the nematodes can penetrate deep into the soil.
   
   

Troubled by other intruders in your (vegetable) garden? These articles might interest you too! 👇

• Three remedies for white grubs in your lawn
• 3 tips for fighting aphids ecologically
• 6 ways to keep slugs and snails out of your kitchen garden