Netting as Barrier

Hello Fellow Sufferers,

Well, it's getting to be that time of the year again when the scourge known as Japaneses Beetles make themselves known. I've tried traps, real bad idea. I've tried various chemical potions, not much good. So now, it's time to use netting to keep the little bastards from getting to my plants. So I need to ask, does anyone have a source for Japaneses Beetle netting?

Thanks
Bart

Hi Bart, Why were the traps a bad idea? (I haven't tried them so I'm curious.)

I've seen some people on here use tulle as a cover. Japanese beetles are pretty big, so tulle would stop them and I'd guess it would be both cheaper and more readily available than something branded as specifically for JBs. Others can say more about sizes/lengths and support structures for the tulle than I. Tulle would also block bees, but that might not be a problem depending on the plant -- what plants do your Japanese beetles go after? I only had a few on my squash and beans last year. Haven't seen any yet this year.

I'm convinced that putting out the traps was like ringing the dinner bell. Every JB from miles around came by to sample the wares. Yes, I had them far away from the plants, but they still found them.

Bart

BeetlesPerSqFt wrote:-- what plants do your Japanese beetles go after? I only had a few on my squash and beans last year. Haven't seen any yet this year.

Last year the JBs went after my pole beans, raspberry bushes and roses.

Bart, that's EXACTLY what happened!

The secret is to give the traps to your neighbors (or their neighbors) to put up. That will draw the JBs to the neighbors & leave you alone.

I haven't seen any this year, but I usually don't get many...

Bridal tulle is fine enough to keep out a lot of bugs, even the good ones like lady bugs. If you use netting, you may have to help pollination with certain plants. And make sure to seal the tulle tight.

sanderson wrote:Bridal tulle is fine enough to keep out a lot of bugs, even the good ones like lady bugs.  If you use netting, you may have to help pollination with certain plants.  And make sure to seal the tulle tight.

Pollination and Lady Bugs. darn, there's always a trade off..........

Hey Bart!  I feel your pain.  I have a regular smorgasbord going on with my pole beans on an annual basis.  Last year in my SFG it was unbelievably terrible.  The JBs would be in unscrupulous sexual positions on the plants, I would go out whenever and smack them off, they would flow around into hair, it is awful.  

However, in my unabashed hatred of them, I did study them.  I like to consider myself strictly organic.  They seemed to really prefer the new top growth tissue, all over the tops of the trellises. They were definitely concentrating on the new top growth. That is where I plan to use netting, still allowing for pollinators.

They also didn't care for the Ivory Soap spray that I made.  Didn't kill them, just a deterrent.  Also tried the hot pepper thing...no luck there.  Did not get any Dr. Bronner's soap, might try that this year. What I did use (but you have to be ultra diligent....not always easy) is shaved Ivory bar soap dissolved in water and squirted on the plants in the AMs. Cheap and harmless, and kinda worked.

I am planning to shield the top growth are with mesh, and use the soap....my plants despite the dang beetles produced heavily.  Kentucky Wonder Pole beans.  This year am planting a purple variety so I can see them!  And get to them earlier! Hopefully get to them before they get too big!

Keep us posted!  Hate those JBs....

I saw my firts JB of the season yesterday on my pole beans.

plan now.....they are terrible. However they don't kill the plant, but no mercy. Yuk

I spread Milky Spore on the lawn last fall. I'm waiting to see if has reduced the JB population.

Bart wrote:I spread Milky Spore on the lawn last fall. I'm waiting to see if has reduced the JB population.

Bart, I will be interested to hear how this goes for you, if you notice any reduction in JB population....how do you do the milky spore thing?

I've had them pretty bad on my raspberry hedge the last few years.  I just go out once a day and pick them off by hand and throw them into a bucket of soapy water.  It takes some time, but it does minimize the damage.

Scorpio Rising wrote:

Bart wrote:I spread Milky Spore on the lawn last fall. I'm waiting to see if has reduced the JB population.

Bart, I will be interested to hear how this goes for you, if you notice any reduction in JB population....how do you do the milky spore thing?

I will let you know if I notice a reduction in the JBs...

I used the white powder form of the Milky Spore. The way you apply it is one table spoon placed on the ground every four feet. Then when you come to the end of one row, you move over four feet and start the next row. When you're done applying the powder your yard looks like a checker board. Apply it right before a rain. It needs water to soak into the ground.

Bart

Bart wrote:

Scorpio Rising wrote:

Bart wrote:I spread Milky Spore on the lawn last fall. I'm waiting to see if has reduced the JB population.

Bart, I will be interested to hear how this goes for you, if you notice any reduction in JB population....how do you do the milky spore thing?

I will let you know if I notice a reduction in the JBs...

I used the white powder form of the Milky Spore. The way you apply it is one table spoon placed on the ground every four feet. Then when you come to the end of one row, you move over four feet and start the next row. When you're done applying the powder your yard looks like a checker board. Apply it right before a rain. It needs water to soak into the ground.

Bart

I made a mistake. I said tablespoon of powder, that is wrong. I meant to say teaspoon, one teaspoon of powder. Sorry for the mix up.

Bart

This is the netting that I use for everything. I'm on year 3 using the same pieces. No fuss, no muss, no tangling and it's still going strong. I got mine from Amazon.

Dewitt 14-Foot by 45-Foot Bird Barricade Deluxe Netting 1/4-Inch Mesh BB1445DLX

This year will be the first time I'll be using it to try to keep out the Squash Vine borer. Hoping for success. I'll let you know what happens.

The Japanese beetles have been getting increasingly worse over the last 3 years in my yard. I have noticed a significant loss in my asparagus beds. Someone told me that the grubs like the roots. I planted garlic in the beds and under my grapes as a repellant. If I use the milky spore will it eventually work its way to surrounding yards? The net idea might work on some of my vegetable beds. I want to build a chicken run with grapes over it for shade. When the beetles attack the grapes I can shake the vines and the bugs will fall to their doom.

ronbart wrote:I want to build a chicken run with grapes over it for shade. When the beetles attack the grapes I can shake the vines and the bugs will fall to their doom.

Great, I like that idea.  

CapeCoddess wrote:This is the netting that I use for everything. I'm on year 3 using the same pieces. No fuss, no muss, no tangling and it's still going strong. I got mine from Amazon.

Dewitt 14-Foot by 45-Foot Bird Barricade Deluxe Netting 1/4-Inch Mesh BB1445DLX

Looks like a good product, that it wouldn't tangle/ trap birds.

Nope, it doesn't trap birds. But the chipmunks can lift it up with their little chipmunk hands and eat my in ground strawberries if I don't place wood planks along the netting edges.