GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Dealing with Japanese beetles

They’ve munched on a few of my oak leaf hydrangeas, eaten up some sunflower leaves, but so far, damage is minimal.

I checked the neighbour’s yard, which has more horticulture than mine, and they have only eaten a few scattered grape vine leaves.

Japanese beetles have begun their annual breakfast and lunch, gobbling up plants of all kinds.

Roses are their favorite, along with Japanese maples, cannas, zinnias, raspberry and clematis, but they will eat almost anything deciduous.

Japanese beetles are easy to spot. Usually in clusters or families, they are about two or three times the size of a housefly. Their heads are metallic green with copper coloured bodies.

Damage is also easy to spot, with sections of the leaf missing.

They will usually start eating in one corner of the plant, then continue eating until satisfied.........

© Sarnia Observer