Chandra from Escondido, Ca writes
we have about 50 yards of bamboo along our fence (privacy screen)thats about 3 years old now and all the new growth is getting aborted/stunted by mealybugs. I would like to find the right systemic insecticide (none are labeled for bamboo) and the ones for trees have a different way of applying but would work. Any advice on how much I would need use?
Yes, Adonis 75 can be used to systemically control mealybugs. The easiest way to apply the Adonis 75 for systemic use is by performing a soil drench. Each bag contains 4 x 2.25 oz. water-soluble packets. Each packet makes 25 gallons of of mixed solution. If you do not have a way to mix up 25 gallons at a time than you cannot use this product as it comes pre measured. You can use the liquid version called Adonis 2F as you can mix up as little or as much as you need at a time. You will need to use 0.1 to 0.2 fl. oz. (3 to 6 mL) of Adonis 2F per inch of trunk diameter depending on what you are trying to treat the trees for. Most people use a 5 gallon bucket to dilute the product with water. 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 foot of shrub height (or inch of trunk diameter for trees) but you may use 1 quart -1 gallon of water per foot of height (or 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 trans-located 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. Be sure to read the Adonis 2F product label for complete usage instructions.
Answer last updated on: 07/25/2013
