How to Manage Those Pesky Japanese Beetles

Japanese beetles have descended upon many Front Range communities. These exotic pests love many of our favorite plants, including roses, Virginia creepers, sunflowers, and green bean plants. Before the adult beetles wreak havoc on plants, leaving behind a lacy skeleton of leaves, their white grubs are busy at work chewing on our turf roots.

Why does my lawn look damaged?
If your lawn looks damaged, it could be due to any number of causes including heat stress. If you are seeing beetles in your yard, they could be laying eggs in your turf, affecting its health. Luckily, some of the same techniques can help with either cause. Mow your grass higher -- it promotes deeper root growth and helps turf manage the heat. Healthier roots can withstand the grubs' destructive behavior better, so any practice that promotes turf health will make your lawn less susceptible to damage.

The Japanese beetle solution
For the adult Japanese beetles, the best way to control them is through handpicking then dumping them in soapy water. If you can't control them this way, you can speak with one of our landscape professionals about insecticides that might help. Traps are not recommended, as they have not been shown to reduce beetle damage. In fact, traps are more likely to invite even more beetles into your landscape according to the USDA.

The Easiest Solution
The simplest way to avoid losing plants to these pests is to look for plants that don't attract them such as lilacs, hydrangea's and pines. Your local garden center can help you find the right plants for your conditions that won't bring more beetles around.