Comments on: Getting rid of Japanese Beetles, Naturally http://www.blulow.com/2008/07/11/getting-rid-of-japanese-beetles-naturally/ All about living green (BLUe + yelLOW = Green Living) Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:45:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Felicia http://www.blulow.com/2008/07/11/getting-rid-of-japanese-beetles-naturally/#comment-771 Felicia Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:25:01 +0000 http://www.blulow.com/?p=59#comment-771 I have a sneaking feeling that it would not only deter the beetles, but the tobacco would also keep a few of the neighbors away too. Thanks for the tip John! I have a sneaking feeling that it would not only deter the beetles, but the tobacco would also keep a few of the neighbors away too.

Thanks for the tip John!

]]> By: John Sowansky http://www.blulow.com/2008/07/11/getting-rid-of-japanese-beetles-naturally/#comment-770 John Sowansky Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:45:22 +0000 http://www.blulow.com/?p=59#comment-770 About 10 years ago on PBS in Seattle I watched a gardener on Saturday mornings. His favorite tool was the hose-end sprayer. As an insect deterent he would take chewing tobacco, simmer it in water, strain out the tobacco, fill the sprayer with the tobacco water and spray it where he had a bug problem. I haven't needed to try this so I don't have first hand results to pass on. About 10 years ago on PBS in Seattle I watched a gardener on Saturday mornings. His favorite tool was the hose-end sprayer. As an insect deterent he would take chewing tobacco, simmer it in water, strain out the tobacco, fill the sprayer with the tobacco water and spray it where he had a bug problem. I haven’t needed to try this so I don’t have first hand results to pass on.

]]> By: Felicia http://www.blulow.com/2008/07/11/getting-rid-of-japanese-beetles-naturally/#comment-751 Felicia Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:48:22 +0000 http://www.blulow.com/?p=59#comment-751 Thanks for the great info George! Thanks for the great info George!

]]> By: George Reynolds http://www.blulow.com/2008/07/11/getting-rid-of-japanese-beetles-naturally/#comment-749 George Reynolds Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:36:01 +0000 http://www.blulow.com/?p=59#comment-749 Here is a good Web site for info about Japanese Beetles. http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef409.asp It's the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Entomology Dept. Among other things, it says that hand-picking the beetles keeps their numbers down. Here's what I do: I squirt a few drops (maybe half a teaspoonful) of liquid hand soap into a plastic margarine bowl and add about 3/4" of water and slosh it around to mix it. I go out to the garden at least twice a day, once in the mnorning and again in the afternoon and knock the beetles off the leaves and into the soapy water. They die within 30 seconds. The more beetles on the plants, the more will be attracted. By keeping their numbers down like I do, fewer beetles come to feed off my bean and okra and raspberry plants in the garden. I don't use chemicals because I don't want to contaminate the food, and besides, mny grandchildren play in the backyard and I don't want chemicals on them. This earth-friendly method works for me. I don't get 100 per cent, but it is satisfying to see the numbers low, and to watch the beetles die. Even if I miss a few (they don't drop into the water), I am knocking them off the leaves, and disturbing their feast. It will take a while for them to return. (And maybe I'll get them next time!) Here is a good Web site for info about Japanese Beetles. http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef409.asp It’s the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Entomology Dept. Among other things, it says that hand-picking the beetles keeps their numbers down.

Here’s what I do: I squirt a few drops (maybe half a teaspoonful) of liquid hand soap into a plastic margarine bowl and add about 3/4″ of water and slosh it around to mix it. I go out to the garden at least twice a day, once in the mnorning and again in the afternoon and knock the beetles off the leaves and into the soapy water. They die within 30 seconds.

The more beetles on the plants, the more will be attracted. By keeping their numbers down like I do, fewer beetles come to feed off my bean and okra and raspberry plants in the garden. I don’t use chemicals because I don’t want to contaminate the food, and besides, mny grandchildren play in the backyard and I don’t want chemicals on them. This earth-friendly method works for me. I don’t get 100 per cent, but it is satisfying to see the numbers low, and to watch the beetles die. Even if I miss a few (they don’t drop into the water), I am knocking them off the leaves, and disturbing their feast. It will take a while for them to return. (And maybe I’ll get them next time!)

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