Japanese beetle prevention?

Question

I have a beautiful young plum tree in my front yard, and I went outside to look at it this morning, and discovered that Japanese beetles have completely destroyed it! All the plums are gone except for the pits and there are holes all over the leaves. I know I can't save it this year, but is there any way to prevent them from destroying it next year??? I don't like plums but the tree is gorgeous!

Answer 1

I have 16 peach trees and 9 purple plum. Malathion kills the beetles faster than anything

I know of and takes about 2 applications pr week. I use "Ortho's, bug be gone" and one

spraying per week is saving my crop. It takes 1.1/2 oz, per gallon of water. Anything

stronger than that may burn your trees. Japanese beetles will eat crab apple trees, rose

bushes, and are the only pest that I know that will eat okra leaves. All they do is mate

and eat, all at the same time. I would like to kill every last one of the @#*$%#!,s. If you

don't spray this year, they may kill the tree. Hope that helps and good luck.

Answer 2

The best defense against Japanese beetles is to get the traps. They attract the beetles to them via scent and the bugs land in the bags and cannot get out. Then you can throw the bag away and replace with a new one. Place the traps away from the tree to divert the bugs away from it. Instructions on exactly how far away are on the package.



You can also usa a systemic insecticide on the foliage as they begin to grow and once again before the beetle season begins. This is taken in to the leaves and makes them poisonous for the insects. Just make sure you do not spary the tree as the fruit is forming as it will get in to the fruit as well.



If you have grubs in your lawn, use an insecticide to kill them as this will help keep the number of beatles down.

Answer 3

Long term solution is to apply milky spore bacteria to your ground to control the grubs that will later become the beetles. This product will last a few years in the ground so multiple applications are not required. It is generally available in garden centers.



Short term solution for next year (after you apply the milky spore) is to get a Japanese Beetle pheremone trap and set it up as far away from your plums as possible. This will draw them away and hopefully let you have some fruit.



The link is only a reference to get you started. I have not done business with this outfit but they do give good info

Answer 4

I am a professional arborist,and will give you professional advice.Systemic Granular Di-Syston is the answer.DO NOT eat the fruit,as they will retain residual amounts of this insecticide.You can pick this product up at your local nursery.Hi-Yield is the manufactuer.