Rahab222
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 354
- Planting Zone
- 9B
Okay, I had this same problem last year with the pill bugs gnawing on my strawberries before I could get to them. This was a result of the compost I purchased from the Master Gardeners that I used in my boxes, not realizing the pill bugs were there. But as I continued to work my way through the bags of compost, I could see thousands of them. After some research, I found the only thing that would kill pill bugs was Sluggo Plus. However, I could only use a few tablespoons of this per 100 square feet and not at all during the fruiting season.
Apparently, the pill bugs over wintered very well in my boxes and multiplied and divided. I went out to check them yesterday and there were dozens of beautiful, gnawed on strawberries and some of them now have small snails sucking on them. Between rain storms, when the dirt in the bed was a little drier, I doused all my beds with diatomaceous earth. Then it rained again the very next morning and the diatomaceous earth will only work if the soil is dry. At this rate, I'm not counting on getting any strawberries from these two boxes again this year. I got a couple from a box on the opposite side of the yard and they were wonderful - no pill bug bites or snails.
So much for organic remedies, which Sluggo Plus doesn't seem to be since it is so potent. Any non-organic ideas on how to get rid of the pill bugs? Sevin Dust doesn't list pill bugs as a critter it will kill (yes, I have some in the garage.) I'm really hacked about this as I have babied these for three years and now, at their peak, they are all being ruined.
OR, should I simply remove all the plants (which are beautiful and healthy) and transplant them elsewhere? Can I transplant strawberries this time of year? I'm not sure where I would transplant them too, except maybe into large pots or planters. I had a beautiful pot - 30 gallons - growing by my front door and somebody stole the whole dang pot when I wasn't home.
If I transplant them elsewhere, I would have to dig out all the compost and take it to the dump, as I sure don't want it anywhere else in my yard or garden. This would give me another 16' x 5' plot for growing other items if I remove the two raised boxes. I really need a solution for this, so thanks in advance.
Apparently, the pill bugs over wintered very well in my boxes and multiplied and divided. I went out to check them yesterday and there were dozens of beautiful, gnawed on strawberries and some of them now have small snails sucking on them. Between rain storms, when the dirt in the bed was a little drier, I doused all my beds with diatomaceous earth. Then it rained again the very next morning and the diatomaceous earth will only work if the soil is dry. At this rate, I'm not counting on getting any strawberries from these two boxes again this year. I got a couple from a box on the opposite side of the yard and they were wonderful - no pill bug bites or snails.
So much for organic remedies, which Sluggo Plus doesn't seem to be since it is so potent. Any non-organic ideas on how to get rid of the pill bugs? Sevin Dust doesn't list pill bugs as a critter it will kill (yes, I have some in the garage.) I'm really hacked about this as I have babied these for three years and now, at their peak, they are all being ruined.
OR, should I simply remove all the plants (which are beautiful and healthy) and transplant them elsewhere? Can I transplant strawberries this time of year? I'm not sure where I would transplant them too, except maybe into large pots or planters. I had a beautiful pot - 30 gallons - growing by my front door and somebody stole the whole dang pot when I wasn't home.
If I transplant them elsewhere, I would have to dig out all the compost and take it to the dump, as I sure don't want it anywhere else in my yard or garden. This would give me another 16' x 5' plot for growing other items if I remove the two raised boxes. I really need a solution for this, so thanks in advance.