Nematodes: Why & How To Use Them!

Nematodes run the underworld. Let's learn WHY and HOW to use them in this video!

Nematodes can tip the scales in your favour so that potential pests are eliminated before they become a threat to your garden harvest.

Nematodes are microscopic roundworms which live in the soil and they can destroy over 200 types of insects that mature in the ground including weevils, Japanese beetles, fleas, borers and fungus gnats, before they reach adult stages.

You can purchase nematodes from garden centers – follow the instructions for storage and application/distribution. The nematodes are stored in conditions during which they go into cryptobiosis – they suspend life when conditions are unfavorable - and then continue on life as normal when conditions improve!

I used a variety of Nematode in the video called Steinernema.

Are nematodes safe? Yes. They don’t hurt people, children, pets or other helpful garden creatures like ladybugs or earthworms.

[paulw.sauline]

Helpful but i still have so many questions: do the little balls disintegrate? How do I know when I've watered enough? I watered for three days like you said and I think I just drowned my plants and the little nematode balls are still sitting on the top of the soil.

[alexandrevaliquette]

COOL SCIENCE PROJECT!!!
Since they don't survive in -20*C Canadian winter, I decide to cultivate/farm them inside!
1 I just ordered the nematode for slug on Amazon today.
2 I will harvest a bunch of my local slugs.
3 I will find second hand aquarium/terrarium
4 I will make some diy bioreactors from Masson jars.

Unlimited supply of beneficial nematodes:
In a nutshell, I will feed the healthy snails in the aquarium: they will make compost during winter as well!
I will take one snail and put it in the Masson jar with nematodes.
Nematodes will feed and reproduce and multiply.
I will time my outburst of nematode for late spring and fall of each year.

I already have a cheap 20$ camera magnifier/microscope variable 10x-200x to inspect how it goes!

I'm 46, but I'm sure I would have won the science fair at school back then!!!


Maybe sharing my 'discovery' with my local gardening association, I will see.

[richardboyd]

Those wood bugs are isopods that have a main diet of decaying matter. They are beneficial. Maybe tried adding decaying leaves would help keep them happy?

[IcePenguin]

Hi, I had some white grub infestation last year and planning to rework my lawn this spring, I saw many said to use nematodes in fall but can I use it early spring? I live near Montreal so at what temperature should I apply them? Thank you

[jonana]

Is this something that would be useful for fleas? Or is there another kind of nematodes for that??

[SlashinatorZ]

What if Thanos snapped nematodes into extinction?

[ExplainedThroughRap]

We love nematodes! We just dropped a rap explaining nematodes and nematology 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[MichaelJosephJr]

In Chicago Zone 5B - Should i put this in my garden beds when I close them in the fall or in the spring?

[helengabr]

Nematodes destroyed all my tomatoes. I pulled out the roots and they had colonised in the root system of my tomatoes 😢. Glad there's something good about them!

[mikhailkalashnikov]

Should the nematodes be applied every year? I live on the edge of zones 6 and 7. It can get down in the single digits a couple weeks out of the year. I've been having some issues with peach borers. Thanks.

[vanhap]

Can the nemetodes round worms live in humans, since they'll be eaten by humans?

[TaNkGiRlGiBo]

Can i use them on indoor plants to help tackle fungus knats? Ive killed off the vast majority of the population but they just will not die.

[FranAndrews-ux]

Would like to know the brand that you are using and where to get them.

[SennaCrow]

In Oklahoma, we called those wood bugs "rollie polies" lol. I've read other names for them, too, though.

[Animegypsy]

What brand is that container of nematodes?

[judithvela]

Very informative video. Also, I thought wood bugs were supposed to be good :/

[csgira]

If I use Milky Spore will that interfere with Nematodes?

[dmaifred]

Any feedback on neem cake? Just read about but have no other info from my long time YouTube sources. Cheers from hot Western Australia.

[martybee]

Are nematodes safe to use with dogs in the garden ?

[Lagerquist]

Do nematodes eat Japanese beetles? Will they survive a Canadian winter?