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Unfortunatley, grub killer doesn't make a difference because beetles on your plants aren't born from the grubs in your lawn. Japenses beetles can fly as far as five miles. So grub killer will save your lawn from grub damage, but unless everyone in a 5 mile radius of you is diligent about controlling them, you'll still have beetles.
Grub killer is absolutely the only way to break the life cycle, specifically Milky Spore treatments on your lawn. A Japanese Beetle will not likely fly long distances if it can go straight up from the ground to the nearest food source.
I am in NC now, and I grew up in NJ. I know how horrible these beetles are to deal with so my best form of control now is straight from nature- Put a bird feeder close to your rose bush and feed your birds seed and bread. You won't believe the difference in the amount of beetles! Many birds such as grackles will devour the beetles before they have a chance to mate and multiply. I feed my birds seed from walmart in 50# bags, and cheap white bread from the grocery store. the white bread will attract grackles more quickly. (black birds with irredecent blue heads) It's actually cheaper to feed thebirds than it is to buy poison and it's a whole lot better for the environment than nasty cancer causing sevin dust and the like...
Well I'm glad to know that others are dealing with this the same way I am. It's just so frustrating. I spoke with the garden experts on our local radio show and they were interested to know what part of town I live in as they are tracking reports of Japanese beetles. You can tell they're new for us!
I'm sorry to hear the Emerald ash-borer is in Erie. It's only a matter of time before they spread further. It's a changing world for sure, even in the garden.
I had great luck with Milky Spore when I lived in Atlanta. I was President of our HOA when the neighborhood was very young. I convinced about 99% of the residents to let the HOA put it down for them if we paid for half of it. It was remarkable how much this greatly reduced the problem and the protection lasts for many years....it might still be working.
I haven't done it here in N.C, but I gave up on roses long ago except for a feew Knock Out the builder put in. Then I have the girls pick them off and put in a cup of gasoline.
I remember way back when I was a kid, before we had a clothes dryer, not only did they get on my mother's roses, they got all over the clothes hung out on the clothesline.
I remember way back when I was a kid, before we had a clothes dryer, not only did they get on my mother's roses, they got all over the clothes hung out on the clothesline.
I used to use those green bags on posts sold in stores for this. Than , as someone said, too many in the neighborhood were defeating the purpose and I got none one year and it was better than ever because they went to the neighbor's bags.
I will mention they can sting when they...I guess it's bite. I got to the point where I handled them by hand when I saw any and that's okay as long as you don't keep them in your palm to long. I walked through ornamental grass a couple of days ago and about 15 minutes later felt a terrible sting on my arm. One of those guys had attached itself to my arm. It can itch for a while after.
I had no idea they could bite people but they sure can bite roses so why not? I don't touch them...I just tap them into the Baggie from the leaf or flower they are biting. I wish bees ate them. I have a million bees on my Russian sage and Blue Mist spirea nearby the poor affected rose bush.
Sevin dust will kill them. And now that the beetles have made it, armadillos can't be far behind. Oh, yeah...also kudzu and fire ants. Global warming is real.
I dunno about armadillos . . . I do remember as a kid in Maryland in the '50s catching Japanese Beetles and ripping out their wings. (I guess we weren't adequately trained about cruelty to animals.)
Fast forward 60 years and I STILL haven't seen an armadillo meandering down the road. Is it 'cause we moved north to Pennsylvania? Should we be on the lookout?? Armadillos and hedgehogs and koalas -- we don't have 'em but I think it'd be fun if we did.
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