How Long Does It Take For Sevin Granules To Work?

In choosing the right insecticide for your DIY pest control treatment, you have to consider how fast it'll work to help you get rid of the irritating insects. In the case of Sevin granules, how long do you have to wait until the pests are gone? That's what we asked the experts and here's their answer.

Sevin granules kill insects upon contact. They target the pests' nervous system and cause paralysis and death. It might take three days to some weeks before the pests are totally controlled depending on your application, the health of the insects, and the severity of the infestation.

Keep on reading so we can explain further the length of time you need to wait until your pest problem is resolved. We'll also teach you how to use Sevin dust granules. This article will also answer if rain washes away Sevin dust and if it's possible to overuse this insecticide. Let's begin!

Woman putting sevin granules on flower bed, How Long Does It Take For Sevin Granules To Work?

How quickly does Sevin work?

Pesticide application sign with treated grass and dandelion weeds

When you have a pest infestation in your lawn or garden, you'd want to get rid of them ASAP before they cause further damage or disease to your plants. Knowing this vital bit of information will help you manage your expectations and know your proper course of action.

As we all know, not all pesticides work the same way. Some insecticides are fast-acting while some are slow-acting depending on their speed of interaction with their surrounding environment.

Toxicity level is also usually associated with how fast an insecticide works such that the more toxic products are expected to work faster.

Sevin insecticides are made from synthetic chemicals formulated to target a wide range of pests. Its granular formulation is said to be able to kill over 100 species of pests both living above and below the ground.

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The list includes fire ants, aphids, crickets, grasshoppers, fleas, millipedes, and ticks. It can be used not just for broad-spectrum pest control but also for spot treatment and perimeter protection.

Sevin claims that this product is fast-acting. It kills the target insects upon contact. Being a non-systemic pesticide, it settles on the surface where insects can possibly crawl over or eat it. That's when its active ingredients work to affect the insect's nervous system causing paralysis and death.

However, it might take three days or weeks before you totally get rid of all the pests in your lawn or garden. Make sure that you follow the instructions for the proper application of Sevin granules to get optimal results.

The rate of its effect is also subject to the health of the insects and of course, the severity of the problem.

If you're treating healthy insects in large numbers, it would take some time before you can eliminate them. So you also have to be patient and do the necessary precautions while you're waiting for Sevin granules to alleviate your pest woes.

How do you use Sevin Dust granules?

The granular formula of insecticides tells us that the active ingredients for killing pests have been absorbed by an inert carrier. This also means that for the product to be effective, the active ingredients need to be activated or released into the affected area.

Granular insecticides are best used in treating soil-dwelling pests. But according to Sevin, their insect killer lawn granules can also be safely used to treat pests on ornamental plants, fruit and vegetable gardens, shrubs, trees, and also along the perimeter of your house.

They are considered relatively safe to use since there'll be minimal exposure to the active ingredients. Many consumers also prefer them because they are easy to use and eliminate concerns regarding spills. So, without much further ado, here's how to use this form of insecticide.

Activating Sevin Dust Granules

  1. Use this insecticide as soon as you see the first signs of infestation. Early intervention makes it easier to solve the problem.
  2. Measure the affected area. If you're treating a large area, use a broadcast spreader. For spot treatment or small area coverage, use a drop spreader.
  3. Wear gloves for your protection.
  4. Pour the granules on the broadcast or drop spreader and apply to the affected surface. Ensure uniform coverage as much as possible.
  5. Sweep any granules that may have been scattered during application back toward the treatment area.
  6. Water immediately. Start from the farthest corner and work your way to the other end to minimize contact with the insecticide.
  7. Enclose this area in the meantime until the ground has completely dried to reduce health risks among family members and pets.

That's it! Watering the granules will release the active ingredients and they will take care of your pest problems.

Does rain wash away Sevin Dust?

Rain drops falling on lush green grass

When using Sevin Insect Killer Dust, it is recommended that you check the weather forecast not only on the day of treatment but also on the next two days after that.

It is also preferable to apply this when the wind is calm and the weather is dry. The wind will blow away the dust particles while the rain will wash them away.

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Sevin Insect Killer Dust is not formulated to be able to stick to the plants or soil's surface for a long time. It is a non-persistent insecticide which means that it degrades quickly in the environment. The rain will break down its components and it'll no longer be effective in treating the target pests.

That's why after applying this insecticide formulation, you can only water the affected plants after two full days. This will give the pesticide sufficient time to settle on the soil and plants so that they can work effectively in eliminating the pests. After this period, the insecticide is already considered waterproof.

In case it rains before the two days are up, you would have to reapply the insecticide when the conditions are more favorable.

Can you use too much Sevin?

We understand that aside from removing the pests, you would also want to prevent them from coming back. You don't want to go through the whole ordeal of pest infestation all over again. This might lead to wanting to use more of Sevin.

First of all, take note that Sevin will continue to give you protection from its target insects up to three months after your initial application. In this sense, there's no need to reapply it until after the said period.

Sevin is made of toxic chemicals so it's best not to use it too often to give the soil and plants time to recover from their contact with those ingredients.

If you use too much Sevin, it might also affect beneficial insects that help your garden grow. It might also cause target insects to be immune to this insecticide. They would be able to develop resistance to its active ingredients to the point that they won't be effective in killing those pests anymore.

To be on the safe side, limit the use of Sevin on affected ornamental plants once a week. The same schedule is applicable to shrubs, trees, and perennials.

For pest prevention purposes, you can apply Sevin to shrubs and perennial plants only up to six times a year and four times for the whole year for trees in your garden.

Final Thoughts

Front yard, landscape design With multicolored shrubs intersecting with bright green lawns

Sevin insect killer lawn granules are one of the fast-acting pesticides on the market so they are good to use for your DIY pest control treatment. Just make sure they are intended to target the pests you're dealing with and follow the right application to get the best results.

You may also read the following posts if you have other formulations of Sevin insecticide.

Can You Mix Sevin Dust With Water? [And How To]

How To Use Sevin Spray On Vegetables