In my vegetable garden the first two years I grew peas and beans. Both years we had a horrible problem with Japanese beetles. How do you keep these bugs out of your garden?
You really need to put down grub x in the yard. I usually do so about the middle of June.
I then put treatment around my roses, so they don't invite more into my yard.
They're nasty, aren't they?
You can buy, or create your own, traps that attract them and catch them in a bag so they can't get out. There are chemical and non-chemical approaches, but it's better than spraying your veggies. If you google "homemade Japanese battle repellent" or things like that, you'll get several suggestions. The sooner you act, before they reproduce, the better off you'll be.
Japanese beetle traps work fairly well.
You set up the bags with a lure and set them up slightly away from your garden.
Monitor the traps and replace when they are full.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Spectracide-Bag-A-Bug-Japanese...
simply spray some soapy water on your plants every so often
Have you considered killing the grubs in your yard? I never really have an issue with them beyond them flying into the light on the porch or a stray one flying in the house now and then.
This may help you. I've had these boxelder bugs around the outside of my house like crazy - especially the sunny sides. Maybe you can treat the Japanese beatles the same. I have a power sprayer (the plastic jug with a hose that you pump). I fill it with water then put in a good 1/2 cup of dish soap or more. Add the soap after so you don't have mess. Give it a light turn to mix the soap and spray the bug with it.
I swear, this soapy mix kills the boxelder bugs immediately - it's something with their enzymes not tolerating the soap. I had to keep at it, but now they are gone for good.
the beetle traps are sort of a catch-22, as they lure in even more than you had before. but they do work, although not perfectly. if your beetles are really bad, it's probably worth getting a few traps and setting them a distance from your garden. oh my, how they do stink, though!
soapy water (dawn is magic!) also discourages them and other pests. it's a PITA to spray them all the time, and dew and rainshowers mean re-applying. but it's effective in its limited way, and better than poisons.
one of our local organic farmers plants 'friendly' areas where the ravaging hordes can feast unmolested while she takes pains to discourage them from her cash crops. it seems counter-productive, but it actually seems to work. but she has workers surveying her gardens constantly armed with soapy water.
we have the japanese beetles, and a worse scourge with stinkbugs. they seem to go in waves. last year was a little better.
khairete
S.
As crazy as it sounds... chickens. If you don't have any chickens, borrow someone else's for a few hours. They'll rid your entire garden of all manner of bugs, and they're entirely organic and extremely efficient.
