Help!! I have grub worms in my mulch pile

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Permalink Reply by PiscesGirl on June 17, 2009 at 10:21am

Do you have chickens? If so, turn them loose and let them snarf those things down!

Good luck to you :)
Chelle

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Permalink Reply by Michelle W. Flannery on June 17, 2009 at 11:07am

If you're using this mulch currently, you'll have to sift out the grubs or pick them out by hand. Do, as Chelle recommended, feed them to your chickens if you have any.

If you're not planning on using this mulch for a while, you can add dried blood and cover it with a tarp. It will hasten the composting process, kill the grubs, grub eggs, and any future possibility of grubs, as well as any seed trying to grow in the pile. The compost will cook, so it will get hot, and might even smoke at times as the internal temperature reaches 160* or higher. On rare occasions, a hot compost pile can combust, so make sure it is contained and away from combustible materials.

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Permalink Reply by PiscesGirl on June 17, 2009 at 11:54am

You are an awesome souce of info Michelle! You sure know your stuff! :-)

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Jones on June 17, 2009 at 1:20pm

This mulch is ready to use, will it still get hot and kill the grubs if I add the blood? Or do I need to add more leaves and greens to heat it up again?

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Permalink Reply by Michelle W. Flannery on June 19, 2009 at 2:11pm

For now, it's probably best if you sift out the grubs so you can go ahead and use the mulch. Add the dried blood to your next compost pile.

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Permalink Reply by Martha Hill on June 17, 2009 at 12:25pm

They are excellent fish bait !! Go fishing !! Gets rid of the grubs and gets you a free fish dinner !!

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Campbell on June 17, 2009 at 4:59pm

Do you have a dog? Sift out the grubs and feed them to the dog. In some parts of the world people snack on grubs, so they won't hurt the dog. My dog crouches down in hopes of grubs whenever I garden.

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Gill on June 17, 2009 at 5:08pm

Don't be squeamish -- just pick them out and give them a squish. Even better, buy a chicken and let her dig around in the pile. She'll eat the grubs (LOVE THEM) and turn your compost for you. And the eggs are GREAT! Bruce

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Permalink Reply by Dana on June 19, 2009 at 12:34pm

I am a vegetarian gardener, and do not use animal products such as blood or bone meal in my garden. I also do not kill pests directly, but I don't take issue with "natural" elimination of grubs if you have chickens, for example.

What are some of the other veg-friendly and natural ways folks are dealing with pests?

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Permalink Reply by TAR HEEL on June 19, 2009 at 4:00pm

......................I like grubs.

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Permalink Reply by Martha Hill on June 19, 2009 at 6:18pm

Wish I had a few !! We have two catfish ponds !!!

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Permalink Reply by Angelita J. Prado on June 23, 2009 at 11:36pm

i suspect the grubs are macro decomposers, your mulches are about to decay into compost... not sure nway

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