Calhoun County, AL – I hate their guts, I noticed on my budded Double Scarlet Flame Zinnas one leaf amongst dozens with knaw marks! I am savvy on their mannerisms, I flip over the leaf and there the imp was. I used my fingers & squeeze the life out of it, tossing to the birds. My journals are CHALKED FULL of my Japanese Beetles stories. Dating back to 4 years ago their earliest arrival in my yard was May 29. So? May 25 is 4 days earlier than the records I keep on finding them, killing them, etc. My usual morning routine as an organic gardener is to mix up Dawn Dish Detergent & water in a Mason Jar. And after one cup of coffee I go find the sleepers, and knock them into the jar to their demise! Each year I kill over 300 in 6 weeks via that method. By killing 300 I prevent 40 newbies created x 300 each beetle, for next year. Yes! 1 Japanese Beetles has a orgy party on the plant, and drops into your soil to hatch by next year 40 miniature imps! … Kill them, kill them all! If the adults during the 6 weeks get too high up my tall rose bushes, I get on a ladder and bomb them with Diamatheous Earth (DE) powder. Needless to say, my neighbors find this amusing? So? I challenge you to prove you kill more beetles in 2024 than I do? And if you think I made any of this up, I did not! I will report after the following date my killing numbers … (LoL) : Result: Saturday, July 6, 2024 (the 6 weeks conclusion of killing Japanese Beetles). Products I use: Milky Spore (treats the ground in the fall) see Photo.
Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She is an organic gardener since 1998. Signature flower she grows are Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, raised bed garden, and in ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: [email protected]
