How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles

1Identify the Damage

Japanese beetles can quickly damage roses, ornamentals, fruit trees, and lawns. Adult beetles skeletonize leaves by feeding between the veins, leaving a lacy brown appearance. Chewed flowers and brown lawn patches caused by grubs feeding on grass roots underground are also common signs of activity.

2Hand Pick Early

In smaller gardens, hand picking is surprisingly effective in the early morning when beetles are slower and less likely to fly. Shake them directly into a bucket of soapy water. This works best during the first two to three weeks of adult emergence before populations peak.

3Protect Plants

Apply garden-safe insect control spray to the foliage of roses and ornamentals during peak beetle season. Row covers can protect vegetable gardens during high-pressure periods. Reapply sprays after rain and avoid treating open flowers to protect pollinators.

4Treat the Lawn for Grubs

Since adult beetles develop from grubs in the soil, treating your lawn reduces next year’s population significantly. Apply preventive grub control in early summer before eggs hatch, or a curative product in late summer when grubs are small and actively feeding near the surface.

5Use Traps Carefully

Japanese beetle traps attract beetles effectively but can draw more into your yard than you would otherwise have. Place traps at the perimeter of your property, well away from prized plants, so they pull beetles away from your garden rather than into it.