I am lucky to have a source from the local race track for straw that has been in the stalls, and enriched by the horses for mulching my garden. I love not having to pull weeds, and then tilling it into the soil in the fall to enrich the soil. But it has caused one effect that I need some help with.
Last summer, I had a hard time growing pole beans because they were eaten off as soon as the poked up out of the soil. I blamed the rabbits at first, bun then discovered that my straw mulch was hiding lots of crickets, and they were observed chewing on my young bean plants. I would like to treat my garden with something to deter the crickets.
Would it help to put down something on the ground before I add the mulch, and what would work best? I use insecticides sparingly, but I do use them when nothing else works. I am thinking a little Sevin dust under the mulch might work. But am definitely open to other suggestions.
Oh my. OK, I am trying the bread in the quart jar--only had whole wheat, no white, and no molasses in the house. I have a cricket living in the hurricane shutter roll-up, and it chirps so loud at night I have to sleep with the bedroom door shut. It is clear out in the living room. How it got up here on the seventh floor is beyond me..why won't it go back down to all its friends *sigh*. Thanks for all your suggestions. Will post what works. Or not.
My dad was feeding the lizard and whole box of like fifty crickets got away... oh snap. I was hoping this could help. I've tried every thing. We're gonna try to vacuum them.
Thanks for all the ideas. I will definitely try the molasses and the bread traps. I haven't seen a tarantula in my yard for a long time. I used to have one that came into my workshop. If I could find a couple, I would try to entice them to live in my garden. And just a note to Otis. I have been gardening a long time and using the straw for mulch. Since it comes from the stalls at the racetrack, it is enhanced with natural fertilizer, and we till it into the soil at the end of the growing season which helps to build a better soil. In the meantime, it holds the moisture during the hot, dry weather in Arkansas in July and August, and as a bonus, I don't have a weed problem. And I don't enjoy weeding. Of course, I also use the straw, along with my kitchen scraps, to make my compost. Harlean from Arkansas
harlean and anyone else with this problem, I wish you all lived closer. My son has a pet tarantula and guess what it eats? Live crickets! I have to buy them and they don't come in small quantities so half of them die!
To get rid of crickets take jars the size of a quart jar and drop in a couple pieces of torn white bread. Set around anywhere you think you might have crickets. They hop in for the bread and can't get out. Then take the kids fishing and let them get hooked on a good thing. Food, togetherness, fresh air Mother Earth, etc. If you have kids some day you'll never regret it. I know,
Harlean-- There is no mulch in "Plant, water, weed, harvest." Forget the mulch. Pole beans don't need no stinking mulch. If you want to use that straw for something productive, grind it up and make compost-- then toss it into your flower beds.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it... Good Luck and Happy Beans this summer.
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback (if you are a registered user). If you have not yet registered, click here to do so. It's FREE!.
Archives:
Request: Getting Rid of Crickets
Archived on 03/26/2008
My son has crickets in the basement he would like to get rid off them. Please advise what to use, thanks.
Evelyne from Toronto, Canada
Answers:
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
When not in use always try to keep your drains plugged. If you don't have enough plugs a Pringles lid or powdered ice tea lid will work as well. I also use glue traps, so far I've caught 5 of them annoying things. (09/20/2007)
By Christine IN
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
This summer, we began getting crickets in the basement. We think they entered through a crack in our new addition. One week, we'd hear what we thought was one or two, but as the weeks passed, just opening the door to the basement seemed as if we were going into the woods, because there were so many crickets!
We called an exterminator and while we waited for him to find a time to check out out situation, I ran to the local hardware superstore and got a gallon of bug spray.
I sprayed it into the cracks outside our home's foundation and into the walls and ceilings of our basement. Sounds like exhausting work but really, it wasn't.
And guess what: this week, we began to see little, dead crickets along our basement floor, and we no longer hear their "serenade!"
The stuff we bought is called "Bug Stop" and it is made by Spectracide. It cost about five bucks. Pretty efficient way to go, if you ask me :)!
Hope this helps. (09/22/2007)
By Anne in Chicago
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
Use Raid max, I use it in my basement and spray the crickets when i see them. They die in 10-15 seconds. Spray the sill plates of the house and any cracks you see where they can enter the house. They will crawl across the chemical and die real quick. Lasts about 2-3 months. then reapply. (11/10/2007)
By Jeff
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
I have used roach motels successfully. They don't get every last one but the herd is thinned dramatically. There were very few left after I had the traps out for awhile. The traps do have somewhat of a strong odor but are tolerable. They're also non-toxic. (11/19/2007)
My house is being overtaken by crickets! Can anyone give me any tips or advice on getting rid of these things? They are mostly on the outside but there are like millions of them. Now they are starting to come inside, they give me the willys!
Any advice greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Judy from Eakly, Ok
Answers:
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
I use a non toxic spray called Orange Guard. Works great for about 2 weeks, then you just spray again.
Katrina (08/23/2007)
By
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
I have tons of them in my house. Each day I kill 7 or more. I find them mostly by the front door that has a huge gap in the bottom and normally in the bathroom. I'm thinking they might be coming from the piping or a hole from the wall. They are nasty n gross because it's like they're after me :( I have to kill them. I feel terrible but they jump at me! I'm on a low budget so paying for pest control companies is out of the question, and the only thing out in stores are for ants and roaches, Is there any poison that I can place for them to stop coming in! A poison that won't harm the air for people! Anything! They have got to stop coming in! (09/02/2007)
Does anyone have suggestions on how to rid my backyard and garage of a cricket infestation that has invaded? I have pets, children and a swimming pool, so I would like to avoid any harsh chemicals or bug killers.
Hardiness Zone: 10a
Thank you!
Jennifer from California
Answers:
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
We have a big problem with crickets hopping in each time you open a door to the outside.
There is a bug spray that hubby buys at the hardware store. He sprays the perimeter around the house and it does cut down on them.
Check, but I don't think it harms pets. (09/13/2006)
How can I get rid of annoying crickets? I have one somewhere in my home and cannot find it and it is extremely loud, or seems to be when I get up early in the morning and the place is quiet. Any and all advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
jmz2005 from Illinois (8/21/2006)
Answers:
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
When you find him, box him up and send him to me. We're out in the country and love to hear the crickets and toads. (08/22/2006)
We always let the cats find them for us if they get in. My husband won't go to sleep if it is in the house he becomes a madman and hunts it down. I mean appliances are moved and everything. He hates them.
Good luck on finding the little critter.
Laura (08/23/2006)
I mixed mollasses with water and for some reason the crickets are attracted to it. I set it out one night and in the morning there must have been about 10 in that jar! Try it! (08/23/2006)
By Christina
RE: Getting Rid of Crickets
Get a little chameleon or other lizard, and let him loose in the house. He'll find and devour it in no time! (08/24/2006)
