A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems Nematodes

Hello from Southern CA. Like many people, I live in a condo, but am lucky enough to have a fenced-in patio with an L-shaped planting bed. In one spot I have been through a beautiful flame vine, a gorgeous podocarpus, and then, in desperation, a potato vine. It, too, bit the dust. When I dug up the remains, it was clear that the cause of death was (were) root knot nematodes. I have learned of two possible solutions to the problem: (1) Let the land lie fallow for a minimum of four years, which won't do anything for the looks of my patio and (2) Cover the area for three months with clear plastic, which will cook the little nematodes, but only if the average daily temperature is 80 degrees or above. Sadly, the usual summer temperature here doesn't quite make it to 80.

Does anyone have another idea?

What about nematode control options other than the use of resistant varieties? Gardeners who are interested in trying something new, might want to consider Clandosan 618. Clandosan 618 is a product made from ground crab and shrimp shells recovered as by-products of sea food processing. The ground shells, along with agricultural grade urea, are formed into granular pellets and contain no artificial or synthetic substances, or any product derived from petrochemical sources.

How does Clandosan control nematodes? Prior to planting the garden, the product is tilled into nematode-infested soils to a depth of about six inches. The Clandosan then acts as a growth stimulus for the multiplication of normal soil microorganisms, such as actinomy- cetes, bacteria, and fungi.

After a week or so of feeding on the Clandosan, the "good guy" microorganisms reach high population levels in the soil and need a new sources of food. The new food supply turns out to be root-knot and other damaging types of nematodes, and within two to four weeks after application, Clandosan should have reduced the root-knot nematode population to a non-damaging levels.

For more information about this Clandosan 618, check with your garden supply dealer, or visit your County Extension Office.