In this encore presentation of Down the Garden Path, landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss applying nematodes, the primary method homeowners in Canada use to control pests such as grubs on our lawns.

It's been a heavy Japanese beetle season in the Greater Toronto Area, with a lot of damage done to the foliage of our trees and shrubs. As the hot days of summer come to an end, so will they!

However, where there are Japanese beetles, there are white grubs. And right now, those white grubs are beginning to hatch and eat our lawns, growing and becoming next summer's Japanese beetles. So, what can we do? This is where applying nematodes comes in.

• Nematodes are microscopic, colourless worms that travel through water in the ground to attack and kill grubs and other pests.
• If you want them to work, you have to water your lawn well.
• They don't bother humans, pets, or plants but will attack various soil-borne pests instead.
• When nematodes find a host they want to eat, they work their way inside them, consuming their host using powerful bacteria.
• A single nematode can kill a pest in 24-48 hours, making them a quick and efficient solution to infestations.
• We discuss what nematodes are, how they work and the best practices for applying them.

If you've been seeing the effects of Japanese beetles in your garden this summer, you won't want to miss this podcast. We offer lots of great tips to help your garden and lawn thrive into the fall and prepare it for success in the spring.

Where to find us:

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

You can also email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect with Joanne and Matthew via their websites:

Joanne Shaw: down2earth.ca 

Matthew Dressing: naturalaffinity.ca

Other helpful resources:

Applying Nematodes (blog post)

Seasonal Stressors

August in the Garden

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes.

As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.