Community Corner

Ask the Gardener: What's the Best Way to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles?

Got a gardening question? Leave a question for our experts.

Ask the gardener is a column in which local readers send in questions about your garden, lawn, trees and more. 

This week's question: What is the best way to get rid of Japanese Beetles that are eating my plants and flowers? Do those bag traps really work?

Joe Krygiel, manager at in O'Fallon, answered the question:

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The bags work, but if you put them in the wrong spot, they can do more harm. Ideally, you want to put them up and away from the parts you're trying to protect.

Is there anything else you'd suggest?

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A good contact killer called Sevin (Dust).

Are there certain kinds of plants the beetles favor?

They favor roses, crepe myrtles, Rose of Sharon and anything in the fruit tree family.

Have Japanese Beetles been an issue in this area?

This year, they haven't been as big of a problem. I'm not sure of the reason. They should start to wind down soon, because it's nearing the end of the adult life cycle. The adults go back in the ground, lay eggs and die. The beetles start as grub worms in the winter, so you can also treat for those.


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