Merit 2F Insecticide - Questions & Answers

As far as we know there are no known insecticides that will work on Ground Pearl. Ground Pearl is a type of hearty armored scale, and other than natural enemies like ants, no true solution is available. The best solution to try is to reduce plant stress by following recommended fertilizing and irrigation recommendations to enable turfgrass to tolerate the damage. You may also want to contact your local Cooperative Extension office to see if they have any recommendations.

Yes, Merit 2F Insecticide can be used as a systemic drench for emerald ash borers. You would apply 0.1 to 0.2 fl oz per inch of truck diameter. Uniformly apply the dosage in no less than 10 gallons of water per 1000 square feet as a drench around the base of the tree, directed to the root zone. Remove plastic or any other barrier that will stop solution from reaching the root zone.

Please contact the manufacturer of Merit 2F as we are unsure of the nutrients that you will be mixing with the product. They can be reached at 800.331.2867.

We would recommend to apply Merit 2F Insecticide as a systemic around the base of the trees. Most people use a 5 gallon bucket or a large watering can to apply Merit 2F as a soil drench. You will need 0.1 to 0.2 fl. oz. (3 to 6 mL) of Merit per inch of trunk diameter for trees. The amount of water that is used will vary depending on soil conditions and volumes that are easy for applicators to use. The minimum amount of water that should be used is 1 pint per inch of trunk diameter but you may use 1 quart -1 gallon of water per inch of trunk diameter for trees as well. Denser soils such as clay do not accept water as readily, so the lower volume of water is suggested.  Since sandy soils can accept more water, using the higher volume of water is preferred. After the soil drench has been applied you should water it in with at east 1/2 inch of water. Note: Water simply acts as a carrier and it is important that even distribution of the product is achieved. Thus, more water may be used if the applicator feels runoff will not occur and proper penetration of the root zone is achieved. Insecticides applied to the soil are taken up by the roots and translocated throughout the tree or shrub. Root/soil drenches offer the advantage of requiring no special equipment to apply (other than a bucket or watering can). However, surface layers of organic matter, such as mulch or leaf litter, can bind the insecticide and reduce uptake. Before applying drenches, it is important to remove or pull back any mulch or dead leaves so the insecticide solution is poured directly on the mineral soil. It is also important to keep the soil around the tree or shrub moist for the next 7-10 days after applications to encourage uptake. This may take some time. In the meantime, we you could apply Talstar as a foliar spray.

Merit 2F Insecticide is labeled for basal system applications for listed insects however Safari 20SG Systemic Insecticide with Dinotefuran would be a better option for basal bark treatments. Please review page 15 on the product label for detailed instructions on basal bark sprays for listed insects. 

Typically when treating an evergreen hedge made up of shrubs you would do 0.2 oz of Merit 2F Insecticide per foot of shrub height, so for each individual plant along your hedge that is 6 feet tall you would use 1.2 oz (35 ml) in a sufficient water volume to give a good soil drench coverage. On average you use 5-10 gallons of water per 5 feet of shrub length to ensure the product gets moved into the root zone completely. If for instance you have 2, 6 foot shrubs in a 5 foot length area, you would use 5-10 gallons of water along the root system at the base of the hedge with 2.4 oz (71 ml) of Merit mixed in to that water volume. If you are planning to spray the whole hedge down rather than do a root/soil drench, then the label calls for 1.5 oz per 100 gallons of water. 

Merit 2F Insecticide is not labeled to be used as a tree injection so we cannot recommend it be used in any type system.  It is safe as a soil injection, drench or broadcast when applied as directed on the product label.

Merit 2F rates will vary depending on the target pest and application area.  Please refer to the product label for complete instructions on your target issue.

Merit Granules are safe to apply to any type of new seed. The manufacturer stated that since it is an insecticide it will not harm lawns.
 

For best results, Merit 2F should be stored at or near room temperature.  If it arrived frozen we recommend that you contact the retailer where it was purchased. 

On page 12 of the product label: Apply Merit 2F Insecticide at a rate of 0.1 to 0.2 fl oz (3 to 6 mL) per foot of shrub height. Soil drench applications are made by adding the needed amount of concentrate into a gallon or two of water and evenly applying it around the shrub, followed by more water using no less than 10 gallons of water per 1,000 sq. ft. Please read the product label to ensure it can help control the pest(s) you are treating for and for complete application instructions. 

Yes, as long as it's used as directed, Merit 2F can be used on turfgrass as well as on ornamentals but it is not labeled for caterpillars. To treat tent caterpillars, you can use Suspend SC, which can also be used on ornamentals.

Merit 2F Insecticide can typically last 1 year but some users apply twice in a year as a soil drench to plants/trees.  It depends on the growth of the plants/trees you are applying to.  Bayer Advanced 12 Month Tree/Shrub Insect Control contains the same active ingredient but is consumer grade so not as strong as Merit which is professional grade.

The answer is yes. If pollinators forage in trees that are flowering after Merit 2F Insecticide has been applied it can impact them. 

Merit 2F Insecticide is not specifically labeled for armyworms. We would recommend using Bifen IT at 1 oz. per gallon of water per 1,000 sq ft.

Merit 2F Insecticide is not labeled for gypsy moth caterpillars, so we do not recommend it for this application. Typically for caterpillars, you would use a Bt product such as Monterey BT or DiPel PRO DF. These products must be applied topically to control the caterpillars. Unfortunately, we do not know of a systemic insecicide that will control this pest.

Merit 2F Insecticide can be applied as directed for a foliar application or as a soil drench. Please consult the product label for complete application instructions.

Merit 2F Insecticide is not labeled for midges therefore we would not be able to advise on a proper dilution rate. Bayer Advanced Dual Action Rose and Flower Insect Killer Continuous Spray is labeled for Midges on roses. 

It is not recommended to apply Merit 2F Insecticide during rain.  Normally as long as an insecticide like Merit 2F has had at least 6 hours of dry time after it has been applied, then it is considered rain fast to most rain conditions that would come afterwards. If it rained as early as 4 hours after application you may need to reapply. 

 

Merit 2F Insecticide should be applied as a soil drench for root aphids as directed on the product label.  Keep in mind that Merit 2F is not for use on edible plants.