My understanding is that Spinosad is a bit heavy on the environment. Kills bees. I use it only once right before buds start to set.
Bacillus Thurigensis sp kurastaki (DiPel, Safer cat killer) applied after the sun goes down is a lower impact anti-caterpillar preventative. I apply it weekly till sometime in september, with the intent of finding warm, breezy evenings to apply so that the water its applied in dries up as much as possible.... as alonside bugs, fungus is a worry this year... higher humidity this summer for sure... more soil pathogens than past years... the drier the nightitme environment, the better- I think.
Anyhow... I have been using it since year one, and I have had zero cat damage. Of course, this is not conclusive proof that the stuff works. Plenty of people do nothing and have no caterpillar problems.
Bacillus Thurigensis sp kurastaki (DiPel, Safer cat killer) applied after the sun goes down is a lower impact anti-caterpillar preventative. I apply it weekly till sometime in september, with the intent of finding warm, breezy evenings to apply so that the water its applied in dries up as much as possible.... as alonside bugs, fungus is a worry this year... higher humidity this summer for sure... more soil pathogens than past years... the drier the nightitme environment, the better- I think.
Anyhow... I have been using it since year one, and I have had zero cat damage. Of course, this is not conclusive proof that the stuff works. Plenty of people do nothing and have no caterpillar problems.