How to Control Japanese Beetle

Japanese beetle is a spreading invasive species in North America. They do tremendous damage to some of their favorite host plants, including roses. In this video, I'll discuss how to monitor, discourage and control them in your garden using biological controls.

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Photo credits:
Devouring plant leaf by C.Watts CC BY 2.0
Japanese Beetle Guelph by Ryan Hodnett CC BY-SA 4.0
Rose leaf damage by SB Johnny CC BY-SA 3.0
Grape Leaf damage by Steven Depolo CC BY 2.0
Pelargonium by David J. Stang CC BY-SA 4.0

[selfiopath]

Every time I do a research into my garden issues, I end up finding the answer and the solution to the problem on this channel. Jason, thank you so much for sharing your expertise for free ))

[missrose]

The 4th of July I was at my best friend's house where she is just learning to become a gardener. She told me to come look at her rose bushes which were "filled with ladybugs." My first thought was, oh no she must have aphids but when I looked they were covered with Japanese beetles! As I'm trying to Google what would be safe to use on them she grabbed her spray bottle of water and peppermint essential oil and sprayed the plants. Not only did they disappear but several hours later they were still gone. Just a thought.

[alliehartom]

I just found these on one of my plants outside and lo and behold your channel pops up in my recommendations. Thank you so much!

[ignaciaforteza]

Hello Jason; for sure so many of us are grateful for your extensive information. I keep all your videos not only because they are of great help should I have problems, but because they are all so interesting and I enjoyed them. As you know I just have a small garden which is more than plenty for me, and I adore my roses 🌹. Thank you 🌹🌺🌸

[cedarwriter]

This is great! This is more detailed in solutions than I've seen in rose books. I have a container garden of roses, geraniums, hydrangeas and more, so when they find me, they party.

[donp]

What an amazing job you’ve done in explaining and describing this pest and things we need to know to fight the fight for our garden! Thank you, so much…👍❣️

[Lilylanauze]

I’m so glad to have found this video. I have been battling Japanese beetles for two years on my roses. I now know what to do. 🙏🏽

[LaMarAzura]

Thanks!!! new viewer. Very much to the point of subjects!!! Many other garden youtubers talk too much unessential to the subjects. I click off less than a minute viewing them.
Thanks for the all educational points you put out. and I love your garden background too. looks so pristine!!

[jadeduan]

You are awesome!!! Without doubt, this is THE most comprehensive JB control guide. Very practical and timely, thanks a lot Jason😃

[dm]

Thanks for that. We know that all that beetle trap stuff we didn't work for us and finally quit that mess. Tulle netting does protect as they can't get through it, but you have to figure out how to get your plants covered with it. Of course knocking them into buckets of water is fun, but who wants to stand there all day. Last summer I finally found the Neem oil that someone here purchased but we lost and never used. It seemed to do the trick, but this year I am going to treat the grubs and use your tips from this video with the BTg. Can't wait to see if it works!

[jameslinzmeier]

Thank you for this video. This is the FIRST year I have ever noticed these beetles, but they came in by the thousands and shredded my cherry tree, my roses, and my grapes. I learned early on to catch them and put them in water. (no video needed for me to figure this out) but how to reduce them without affexcting much else is VERY GOOD to know. Thanks again.

[marilyngoldman]

This year was the 1st time I experienced those beetles and they ate my Easter Lily down to the stem and I used some dish washing liquid mixed with water. This mixture did an excellent job.

[nicicorps]

Thank u sooo much for this. Last year we had a bad invasion and have been looking everywhere on the internet how to deal with the problem. Finally, after your video, Feel armed and ready to get

[blessedmommad]

Another excellent video Jason! We have thousands upon thousands of these beetles every year😢 they destroy our grapes/roses/plums/peaches every year!! We bought some pellets to distribute all over the ground to hopefully get a head up in the game.. I’ll also be purchasing this grub b gone💐

[debrabolduc]

Great advice!! Got to get after those grubs. But if you're on the losing end of a battle with adults, hand picking is tedious. Put a little sand in the bottom of your shop vac, and give the plants a once over. Japanese beetles would attack my climbing hydrangea and pole beans. We'd vacuum twice a day, alternating between plants to let them settle back down. Would loose a few leaves, but very efficient collection method to limit damage and decimate the population.

[peggyluna]

Thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge with us. You explain everything so well and I appreciate you very much.💚👍🐝

[jenjens]

Thank you this was so informative because I see now the damage going on with my plants. My hibiscus plant is like a skeleton when I checked yesterday. I will be on it, now I know what's attacking my plants. Thank you again, first time finding this channel.

[philiparnold]

Thank you Jason. I will be ready this rose season. Very appreciated to get clear information.

[jennifergray]

This is first year that I’ve had a bad batch of these beetles. They only like my fragrant white roses. I followed old advice at first with the bait bags, I feel it just brought more to my yard! My husband layes down grub-ex, I then took down the bag, sprinkled dameous earth around roses. Next morning pulled off about 30-40 beetles by hand, then last evening, I followed your advice and deflowered all the white roses. I only found one beetle on my roses this morning! And found two others on my fern, but that’s it! We’ve learned our lesson, definitely treating yard for grubs and I will just debud my white shrub roses from June/July. They don’t seem to bother my red non-fragrant landscape roses.

[SusanSmith-delm]

Very helpful. I've been picking off Japanese Beatles off my Virginia Creeper (VC) every day when they come out for about 3 yrs. I put a few drops of dishwasher soap in water in a small jar. I get about 20-40 daily. I tried liquid hand soap too, no they just swam around in that. I have a rose bush touching my VC but they absolutely prefer the VC. They also seem to like the location, hot. I finally bought spray for Japanese Beetles, after reading instructions, it says not to use on VC, whah! I will try the turf granules, other you mentioned when they go back into the ground. The battle goes on!