Will granular insecticide harm new grass seed?

Question

I spread out fescue today and had a customer request me to spread out "Sevin" granular insecticide. I was thinking that it was kind of late to do this, and i also was worried that it might harm the seed.

Can anyone here tell me?

Thanks!

WHY SHOULD YOU WAIT TO PUT THIS KIND OF THING OUT THIS LATE IN THE YEAR?

AFTER ALL FROST DATE IS SOON.

Answer 1

Sevin Granular Lawn Insecticide should have no affect on young fescue turf. Why would you spread this at this time of year? White grubs are still actively feeding on the roots of turf grass. Sevin Granular Lawn Insecticide is an effective curative grub control product that can typically be applied through the end of October for the control of white grubs. To be effective, it must be well watered into the soil. Spreading granules on the turf surface will do nothing to control grubs. Frost will not kill white grubs. As the soils start to cool, they retreat into the soil to avoid the frost, returning in spring to feed again. If you're not treating grubs, then I don't know why you would be doing this this late in the season.

Answer 2

I am only guessing that you are in a part of the world where fall is in force and winter is approaching, in which case why would you bother to kill insects? They are in the stage of dying off anyway, so it's somewhat pointless to try to kill them off. I'd tell the customer you could do it, but it is likely to be a waste of money and time and that now isn't the best time to be bothering with insecticide...unless you are in a warmer climate where winter doesn't kill them off, in which case, my answer would be totally different. I don't *think* the insecticide is specifically harmful to seeds or seedlings, but I prefer to err with caution and avoid anything harsh when trying to coax grass to grow, especially right when you really want it to grow WELL and take root firmly before winter really hits hard.

Answer 3

No. The only thing you want to avoid as far as a granular product on your newly seeded lawn is a weed and feed product. The seedlings are still a bit tender to stand the weed killer.

Answer 4

Probably ok as far as the grass seed goes, unless the label mentions not using it on young grass. However, I'm not much of one for spreading pesticides prophylactically -- there's got to be a good reason for using it, and I'm not hearing one from your customer. And I'm not sure the product will even be active at low soil temperatures.

Answer 5

No, this will not kill your new grass. Sevins is a good product, especially if you seem to have a lot of insects in your yard. Using Sevins now is a good preventive measure.