Do Nematodes Hurt My Garden

Do Nematodes carry Virus & Bacteria and will they infect my perenial garden? Laura B.in Ma USA

Doug says that there likey hundreds of species of nematodes. They are a very small - microscopic - worm that swims on the moisture between soil particles.

Some nematodes are great guys - eating about 200 different pests of perennials (including Japanese beetles) and lawns (sod webworms and June beetles- white grubs)

Some nematodes burrow into roots of vegetables and create problems in there by creating "knots" that restrict root operation.

Bottom line - don't worry. You can't do anything about them anyway because they're in all soils (well, I guess you could "nuke" your property but how much fun would that be? :-)

I've often suggested that folks who want to control a range of pests that have a soil larval stage apply beneficial nematodes.

Have a great garden.