Dog Friendly Beetle Killer

[Gilypoo]

Hi Dolers,

Well my back yard is dead, not just in patches but completely dead. OH and I decided that we would put a garden in and started to dig up the lawn and under the 1st shovel load of grass there was 5 lawn beeltes. It didnt get any better the further we went. They are the bad ones that turn the grass blue b4 it dies..

So my question to you all is are there any safe types of Beetle Killer that I can use.

I have a 19 month Great Dane and a 19 month GSD. They can be removed for a day at a time, possibly overnight but that is about it.

I should probably add that we have over 500sqm of lawn so something that is cost effective aswell would be great, the name of grass is winter green.

Thanks in advance

Gily

Edited October 18, 2010 by Gilypoo

[PossumCorner]

Take care. The grub killer (it's the beetle grub-stage that eats the plant roots) which was used a Parlt House in Canberra killed the magpies that ate the grubs. Poison is poison.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

What I do is catch the washing machine water from my washing machine - detergent and all - doesn't matter much between biozet or omo - although omo seems to be slightly more effective and water temp doesn't matter - it's usually cold.

And I siphon that out onto my lawn. I have a bit of ag pipe with holes in it that I put the end of the hose in to stop it digging holes in the lawn with the water flow. And I leave it in one spot for at least five minutes, ten can be better. And it floods that patch of lawn and all the black beetles come to the surface gasping for air. And I stand over the flood (after about two minutes or so, and catch them, and kill them. Sometimes the magpies and wily wagtails come and help.

No toxins other than the laundry detergent involved. It also discourages ants from building nests in the lawn. I don't think I'd use this on the vege patch but then again, maybe.

Fresh water or shower water doesn't seem to be quite as effective but you still get some.

If you're worried about alcalinity of the laundry water - put some amonium sulphate in. I found about half a kilo to a kilo was enough to neutralise the laundry water, and the lawn just loves it. So green. But it is mostly kikuyu.