Re: Question for Dr. Grewal

Dr. Grewal,
I am so glad to see you post to the hosta robins.  Thank you for shedding some light on this troublesome hosta-lover/hater!

I just reread your article in THJ 2001 Volume 32 Number 1. I was amazed at the life cycle of the beast.  I had been told to treat them once and then again 2 weeks later in order to be treating the unhatched eggs that would have been unaffected by the first application.  For me it was a point I could relate to in my home garden. I can sometimes fool myself into thinking that 'one shot' will do what is needed but I can see now that with foliar nematodes a 'one-two punch' is a start at control.

Another thing I had forgotten from your article and a simple chore that would help with their control, is to take my morning garden walk with a black plastic garbage bag in hand.  I hadn't thought to pull off leaves showing signs of infestation. Sometimes the simplest solutions are overlooked. I will take great pleasure in collecting the leaves and putting the black plastic bag in the hot summer sun to cook!

A friend, who considers foliar nematodes the bane of his existence, owns a car body shop and takes garden markers to work each summer. He throws them in the paint room when they are repairing a red car.  As he notices an infected plant he sticks a red plant marker there.  Without a paint shop, I will be doing something similar by cutting metal dry cleaner hangers and hitting them with red spray paint. As I collect the infected leaves I'll stick a painted hanger wire in each plant.

I wish I could get to the Winter Scientific meeting or the Hosta College and hear your presentation. I am glad to know that you are part of the hosta robins and have answered some questions in this forum.  I think too, that sometimes we gloss over information that doesn't apply to us at a given time then later wish we could put our hands on it. The robins are a great place to ask for help and get answers because as the participants on the robins change some questions resurface and we get a chance to pay closer attention to the information that is shared.

Thank you for sharing with us here and reminding me to go reread some of the great articles in past Hosta  Journals!  Reports from your research that the AHS has helped to fund are just one example of how the national organization has helped right in our own backyard.
Thanks again for the research you do and for sharing the results with us!   

Carol in CT z6/5
Carol Brashear
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