Benefits of Granular Insecticides

There are many different options out there for insecticides. You can choose organic, chemical, or homemade when you think of the composition. From there you have to decide on dust, granules, or liquids. With so many decisions, it is almost as confusing as a Starbucks order. When trying to decide on the best one to use, you need to weigh the benefits of each selection. Each garden, pest, or location has benefits or disadvantages for certain situations. Granules are some of the most all around insecticides out there with few drawbacks no matter what your situation is. Here is a look at some of the benefits of using a granule type insecticide.

Uniform Coverage

When it comes to insecticide, getting a nice, even spread is a must. If there are pools of insecticide, you can "burn" or harm your plants and if there is not enough, you can get pockets of bugs. You need to keep a uniform covering of insecticide over the entire area. With the granular insecticides, you can be sure of a nice even coverage. If you do accidentally spill a little too much in an area, you can scoop it back up and re-spread it. It is much more difficult to scoop up a liquid or dust type bug killer.

Ease of Use

Despite many people's experience with granules, they are quite simple to use. You will want to read the bag for the proper amounts to use, but it is rather simple to spread. Most of the bags will also have tips on them for a better experience with the granules. If you have a spreader, this makes it even easier. If you do not have one, they are very simple to make. You can use an old coffee can and punch holes in one side. You want the holes large enough for the granules to fall freely through. You can use this "salt shaker" method to get a nice even spread. You can also use your hands to sprinkle the insecticide over the area.

Long Lasting

Most of the granular insecticides on the market have a rather long lifespan. Many of them will give you adequate effectiveness for two to three months. This is a little longer than many other types of insecticides. Liquids and dusts are usually made in a weaker formula that is quickly used up by your plants. Granules are "locked" in a solid object (usually pecan shells or corn cob chunks) and slowly seep out. This allows them to continuously distribute the insecticide for several months without loosing any potency.

Climate Friendly

Most climates are more suited to granular insecticides. If you live in a rainy area, liquids can easily be washed off and dusts can be diluted. In windy areas, dusts will be blown off and it is much more difficult to get an even spray of liquid in the wind. Granules are much easier and effective in these situations. Dry and hot areas are the only ones that granular insecticide is not more suited to. You will want to read the bag first to make sure you get the right granules for your area. There are some (diazinon is the most common) that do not tolerate direct sunlight. These can still be used, but need to be covered with a layer of topsoil immediately.

There are several other benefits of using granules. Many of them have been deemed safe for people, pets, and children (pyrethrin based is best). They are also easier to clean up if there is a spill since you can just sweep the granules up. When using these, there are a couple things to keep in mind. You will want to water the area right after you lay the granules. This will get the insecticide started and is much more effective. You may want to cover all of these granules with a light coat of soil to keep birds or other animals from taking off with them. You will also want to find out the carrier substance of the granule. Some of these carriers dissolve completely, while others may leave pecan shells or corn cobs in your garden. These will eventually break down into fertilizer, but some plants or gardeners prefer to keep these things out of their plants. This is all a matter of preference. If you are allergic to nuts, you will want to be especially careful, since the pecan shells may cause a reaction through the granules or by seeping into your plants. You could be making your vegetables toxic to you. The benefits of granules are numerous and the price is usually cheaper than many liquids. Considering you get more coverage with granules, they are often much cheaper. You can find them either online or at your local hardware or gardening store.

Sources:

What is Pyrethrin?

Insecticide Granules