RainbowHen
Make eggs, not war
This year I was finally able to build and plant a beautiful garden after many years without one. Our garden has been doing wonderfully. However, the evil little Japanese beetles are wreaking havoc. Every year they destroy my beautiful Ostrich Ferns and have now found themselves some tasty snacks in the garden.
I have a DIY spray that kills them on contact sending the little sons-of-biscuits right back to where they came from. I spray the ferns 2-3 times a day trying to make a dent in the population. I kill 20-100 at a time. They are resilient little buggers. Unfortunately my spray also burns the plants. I have tried a few variations with the same results.
In the garden they have been having an all-you-can-eat buffet on my beans and basil plants. These are some of my favorite crops. They are trying out almost every other plant in the garden as well. The ferns and beans handle the spray well enough but some of my plants have been unfortunate victims to overspray and have been burned. I also have traps away from the garden that are successful but not successful enough.
The high time for the beetles is in the heat of the day and unfortunately that also makes my plants the most sensitive to the spray. I knock the buggers in buckets with soapy water. Tried DE and neem oil.
Anyone ever used nematodes? I'm overwhelmed with the selection and trying to find a reputable source. Anything else I can do?
I need help. I'm begging. My poor garden
I have a DIY spray that kills them on contact sending the little sons-of-biscuits right back to where they came from. I spray the ferns 2-3 times a day trying to make a dent in the population. I kill 20-100 at a time. They are resilient little buggers. Unfortunately my spray also burns the plants. I have tried a few variations with the same results.
In the garden they have been having an all-you-can-eat buffet on my beans and basil plants. These are some of my favorite crops. They are trying out almost every other plant in the garden as well. The ferns and beans handle the spray well enough but some of my plants have been unfortunate victims to overspray and have been burned. I also have traps away from the garden that are successful but not successful enough.
The high time for the beetles is in the heat of the day and unfortunately that also makes my plants the most sensitive to the spray. I knock the buggers in buckets with soapy water. Tried DE and neem oil.
Anyone ever used nematodes? I'm overwhelmed with the selection and trying to find a reputable source. Anything else I can do?
I need help. I'm begging. My poor garden
