aroundtheyard.com Forums

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I typically don't treat the lawn for insects. I used Milky Spore several years ago, and have applied nothing over the last 5-8 years (and have had no issues). Anyway, i am getting concerned about the army worms as they can destroy a lawn almost overnight. Is there an organic approach that some have been taking or do we need to use a product like Grubex (which treats for armyworms)? Thanks.

If you have them, treat for them. If not...don't.

You'll need to use the appropriate product in this case. Organic controls will be, at best, unreliable--nematodes, I think, in this case. They can work if used correctly, but that can be hard.

Morph - Thanks. My only concern would be by the time you realize you have them, it might be too late.

True, but you'll see the symptoms. Regrettably, you can't really treat until you have them, either. GrubEx works, but should be applied on the worms themselves (actually, little caterpillars).

I keep a bag in stock just in case. If (when) I don't use it, it becomes my application of GrubEx the following May, and I buy a new one for stock.

Morph - Thanks. Keeping one in stock in good advice.

We get armyworms on our Texas mountain laurel plants. I spray with BT Worm Killer and they stop feeding immediately. Sadly Scott's has absorbed the Green Light garden products company and discontinued almost everything they sold. Here is a similar product.


If you search for BT worm killer you get a bunch of alternatives. The active ingredient is the bacillus thuringensis bacterium, which is a disease causing paralysis in caterpillars. It is harmless to animals, fish, birds, people, and most other insects.