Does Monterey Garden Insect Spray Soil Drench work?

The much-anticipated arrival of spring also brings a slew of insects with it. Some insects such as ladybug and honeybee are beneficial to your garden. Others, sadly, are not. Whether you have houseplants, a veggie patch, a flower garden, or a mix of everything, remember that maintaining a healthy plant is not a piece of cake. Some level of insect infestation is unavoidable and you may need to resort to insecticide. There are many options available online but Monterey garden insect spray is one of a kind. But we don’t randomly add it. Monterey Garden Insect Spray soil drench is preferred.

 Let’s have a look at some of the promising features of this insecticide:

What is Monterey Garden Insect Spray?

Remember Platoons of destructive pests are out there looking for a free meal (which is your plants). A grower has to do something so that insects’ plan to eat our plants fails. In this situation, bringing out the best weapon is the only wise choice. Here, this wise choice is Monterey Garden Insect Spray.

This product is a systemic insecticide having active ingredients like imidacloprid. When you combine it with water and applies to the soil, roots absorb it and spreads throughout the plant. This insecticide keeps harmful insects away from plants. It can control:

  • Aphids
  • Mites
  • Gypsy moths
  • Whiteflies
  • Bees
  • Foliage feeding thrips
  • Beetles, and other natural enemies.

Moreover, you can use it on citrus, apple, peach, cherry, and plum trees. By a single application, it controls insects and fungus gnats larvae without harming pollinators.

Benefits of using Monterey garden insect spray

Spinosad, the active ingredient in Monterey Garden Insect Spray, is a relatively new insecticide discovered in 1982 in soil from an abandoned rum distillery. Spinosad, which is produced through fermentation, can be used to control caterpillars, thrips, leafminers, borers, fruit flies, and other pests on outdoor ornamentals, lawns, vegetables, and fruit trees. Guess what? it works quickly! Insect pests die within 1 to 2 days of ingesting this insecticide.

The USDA National Organic Program classifies this substance as organic because it will not persist in the environment (NOP). OMRI approved for use in organic farming. Hence, below is the list of some other benefits of this spinosad concentrate:

  • It has a new chemical formula for insect control.
  • You can use it as a Bt replacement. Although, it is more effective pest control.
  • You can use it on vegetable and fruit crops, ornamentals, and turf
  • It can control caterpillars as well as beetles, fungus gnats, powdery mildew leafminers, thrips, and more!

Monterey garden insect spray ingredients

The main ingredient of Monterey Garden Insect killer is spinosad obtained from the fermentation of a naturally occurring soil bacterium. Spinosad is effective against caterpillars, thrips, codling moths, leafminers, borers, fruit flies, fire ants, and other pests. It also contains a small amount of pyrethrin. Spinosad acts on the nervous system of the garden insect, causing paralysis and death within 1-2 days. Due to the paralysis of insects, they may remain on the plants and live insects may misidentify them.

But, you should always check for Spinosad’s effect 2-3 days after spraying to evaluate insect population control. You can also use foliar spray on plants.

Monterey Garden Insect Spray Soil Drench
Fast measures are necessary to get rid of insects

How does Monterey garden insect spray soil drench works?

The insecticide dissolves in water and travels through the soil to be absorbed by the roots. Once absorbed, it works its way up the fruit tree or shrub, providing all-year insect protection. Monterey spray even penetrates new growth after application along with protection.

To provide complete protection, the insecticide must be distributed throughout the tree/shrub. Moreover, this complete protection could take anywhere from a week to three months (for very large shade trees) depending on the size and health of the plant. 

Monterey garden insect spray application rate

First of all, let’s have a look at the tools you will need to apply this insecticide solution. You can apply a Monterey systematic soil drench with a trigger sprayer, a hand-held sprayer, a backpack sprayer, or a hose-end sprayer.

If you want to know how to mix Monterey garden insect spray, here’s a method. Use a hose-end sprayer with a dilution ratio of about 2.0 fl. oz. (4 Tbs.) of insect spray per gallon. Add the recommended amount of Monterey garden insect killer spray to the recommended amount of water, then thoroughly mix, and then apply evenly to both the upper and lower surface of plant foliage.

We recommend only mixing as much spray as is required for a single treatment. According to the manufacturer, no more than 3.0 gallons of spray be used per 1,000 square feet of area in the vegetable garden.

Keep on thing in mind that Measurements should not be taken with kitchen utensils. Keep proper measuring utensils with the product and out of reach of children.

Also, if you are wondering how often do you use Monterey garden insect spray soil drench, then read this. You should use it twice a week to get the result you want. Check out the table of the amount of Monterey Garden Insect killer Spray to use per Pint, Quart, or Gallon of Spray:

Unit of measurePer Pint (16 fl oz) of SprayPer Quart (32 fl oz) of SprayPer Gallon (128 fl oz) of Spray
Fluid Ounces0.25 fl oz0.5 fl oz2.0 fl oz
Tablespoons½ Tbs1 Tbs4 Tbs

Monterey garden insect spray dosage

For one tree, apply 1 oz. per inch of distance around the trunk and 3 oz. per foot of height for shrubs.

When applying to a fruit tree with one trunk, measure distance (in inches) around the tree trunk at chest height. We recommend using flexible tape. If you are applying Monterey Garden Insect Spray soil drench on the tree with two or more trunks, you should measure distance (in inches) around each tree first and then add together. Multiply this total by 0.75 to get the required number of ounces of insect spray.

For shrubs, measure the height of the shrub to the nearest foot. Round any inches down to the nearest foot if less than 6” and up to the nearest foot if greater than 6”. Multiply the number of feet by 3 and this is the number of ounces of this insecticide to apply. Do not make more than one application per year.

How to apply Monterey Garden Insect Spray soil drench?

Here are the Monterey garden insect spray instructions you should follow in order to get the most of this product:

  • Fill a bucket or watering can with 1 gallon of water (use 2 gallons of water for trees with circumferences greater than 50 feet).
  • Thoroughly shake the bottle of Monterey garden insect spray soil drench.
  • Carefully measure out the required amount of product and place it in the bucket.
  • Pour the solution slowly and evenly around the fruit tree.
  • You should pour as close to the trunk/main stem of the tree/shrub as possible for the best results.
  • Fill the bucket halfway with clean water and pour it around the trunk.

Other natural insecticides you can use

You can also use natural insecticides to protect your plant from harmful garden insects. These natural and homemade pesticides are effective at ridding your crops of harmful critters while remaining safe enough to avoid poisoning you and your family. Let’s have a look at some of the best natural insecticides to get rid of harmful insects:

Neem Oil

The oil extracted from the seeds of the neem tree is a potent natural insecticide capable of disrupting the life cycle of insects at all stages (adult, larvae, and egg), making it an excellent resource for organic gardeners. Neem oil acts as a hormone disruptor as well as an “antifeedant” for insects that feed on plant parts such as leaves.

To use neem oil as an insecticide, either follow the directions on the bottle or begin with a basic mixture of two teaspoons neem oil and one teaspoon mild liquid soap shaken thoroughly with one quart of water. This “oil” is sprayed on the affected plant foliage.

Neem oil can also be used to prevent pest infestations by spraying the leaves of plants that are frequently ravaged by pests before they become infested.

Soap spray

An insecticidal soap spray, which is very similar to the oil spray, is an effective homemade pesticide for controlling mites, emerald ash borer, codling moths, aphids, powdery mildew, whiteflies, fungus gnat, beetles, spider mites, and other hungry little insects. To make a basic soap spray insecticide, combine one and one-half teaspoons of mild liquid soap (such as castile soap) with one quart of water and spray the mixture directly on infected plant surfaces.

Diatomaceous Earth

This natural substance with an unwieldy name is made from a sedimentary rock formed by fossilized algae (diatoms) and is a relatively abundant resource (diatomaceous earth is said to account for 26 percent of the earth’s crust by weight). Diatomaceous earth has a variety of applications in and around the home, one of which is as a natural insecticide. This material kills garden insects without poisoning or suffocating them

Conclusion

All-inclusive, It is not easy to maintain houseplants. Harmful Insects can harm your plant by chewing the leaves of crop plants, boring within the roots, stems, or leaves, sucking out plant juices, and spreading plant pathogens. As you cannot avoid these harmful garden insects, we recommend using Monterey garden insect spray soil drench, especially during flower season in order to get rid of harmful insects. Also, you can use it on vegetable and fruit crops, ornamentals, and turf. It can control caterpillars as well as beetles, leafminers, thrips, and more! Hope this article will help you get rid of these harmful insects.

FAQs

How do I mix Monterey Garden Insect Spray?

Use a hose-end sprayer with an insect spray dilution ratio of about 2.0 fl. oz. (4 Tbs.) per gallon. We recommend that you only mix enough spray for a single treatment with any stirring equipment. The manufacturer recommends using no more than 3.0 gallons of spray per 1,000 square feet of vegetable garden area. Kitchen utensils should not be used for measurements. Moreover, keep measuring utensils with the product and out of children’s reach.

Can you put spinosad in the soil?

Spinosad is a naturally occurring substance produced by a soil bacterium that is toxic to insects. It is a combination of two chemicals known as Spinosyn A and Spinosyn D. Spinosad acts on the nervous system of the insect, causing paralysis and death within 1-2 days. But, you should always check for Spinosad’s effect 2-3 days after spraying to evaluate insect population control. This spinosyn also sticks with the soil and a small amount may also leach down too.

How do you use Monterey insecticide?

Monterey insecticide should be thoroughly applied to the top and bottom of the foliage and reapplied after heavy rains. Fill a bucket or watering can with 1 gallon of water (use 2 gallons of water for trees with circumferences greater than 50 feet). Thoroughly shake the bottle of Monterey garden insect spray. Carefully measure out the required amount of product and place it in the bucket. Then, pour the solution slowly and evenly around the fruit tree.

Does Monterey Garden Insect Spray kill scales?

Yes, this insecticide is best for killing scales. You can also use it to control aphids, spider mites, whitefly, beetles, caterpillars, emerald ash borer, mealybugs, mites, leafhoppers, scale, thrips, fungus gnats, whitefly, adelgids, plant bugs, sawfly larvae, spittlebugs, and other pests. It has a new chemical formula for insect control. You can use it as a B.t. replacement. Although it is more effective pest control, you need to take care of the Monterey garden insect spray dosage. 

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I am a graduate in Agriculture Sciences and have been doing gardening for over 7 years. I am also a professional and certified Article & Blog Writer. I am happy to share my years of experience in gardening with all of you through my writings. In addition to this, I do extensive research on every topic to enrich readers with valuable knowledge.