Knowledgebase
fungicide, insecticide product #867078
Asked May 05, 2024, 10:00 AM EDT
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Peg,
This advice is from one of our MSU Entomologists-
“(Insects) can be controlled by eliminating moist hiding areas such as piles of leaves and grass clippings that may be present around the building…Avoid over-watering of outdoor plants. Chemical control is only necessary if they become very numerous indoors. Treat basement, foundation and immediate area around the house or building with permethrin (sold under a variety of brand names), cyfluthrin (sold as Bayer Advanced Vegetable and Garden Spray for homeowners) or bifenthrin (sold as Ortho Home Defense Max or Ortho Bug-B-Gone) or other similar products labeled for use around homes.
A more aggressive approach would be a perimeter treatment of a bifenthrin (one example is Ortho Home Defense Max) along the outside walls and extending about 10 feet out from the foundation. Be sure to read and follow all instructions and safety precautions found on the label before using any pesticide.”
Here are articles that explain in detail
While the next article is from University of Florida, the principles are the same here; your plant choices will, of course, be different. Note that allowing a bare space between foundation and plants helps air circulation, drainage, and makes a dry, inhospitable environment for insects and fungi:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1397
For fungicide, plants are treated for prevention and control. If you have removed your plants, there will be no need to apply a fungicide. Different fungi and plants require different treatments. If you can tell us which plants and fungi you have, we can give you some options.
Here are articles that explain more, and describe garden fungicides:
- Scrape off ALL mulch, totally and completely, including where the mulch hugs the foundation. Destroy the plants that are there. Don't worry about sorting out the soil with a screen. You've got insects and fungus at least. It can be taken care of but since the problems are so prevalent we want to start with a clean slate.
- The next step is to spray the soil with the proper chemicals. He suggested a couple of brands but in scanning the extension service reply, I'd like to look at the recommendations for treatment while you are getting the mulch cleaned up. I'll also check about turning the soil before or after spraying. TBD.
- Lastly, the Bordines guy and I thought leaving the garden soil without planting this year would be the best option, even after spraying. We thought you might have to spray more than once. You can do a couple of big pots of annuals at the front door and it will be lovely!
Date: Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: fungicide, insecticide product (#0136999)
To: Peg Moran <<personal data hidden>>
