Japanese Beetle Control

Q:  Japanese Beetle was a real problem for me last year.  Is there anything I can do now to minimize their numbers?

A:  April and May are excellent months for controlling Japanese Beetle grubs that overwintered from last fall.  When selecting a grub control, make sure grubs are listed on the label.

I prefer an organic, dry granule Phyllom Grub Gone which is applied with a fertilizer spreader and watered in. Don’t worry if the granules get into your flower beds or shrub beds. Grubs feed there as well. It is a bacterial product, specific to scarab beetle grubs only; it will not harm beneficials like bees, butterflies, and ladybugs. It’s approved for organic vegetable gardening, is child, pet, and bird safe, and proven to be just as effective as chemical applications.  We know Japanese Beetles can fly so controlling the grubs in your own yard won’t prevent beetles from flying in from outside your property.  However, you can rest assured that the roots of your lawn and valuable landscape plants are safe from damage.

Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show