Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
I went outside yesterday to take a few photos of some buds on some trees. I grabbed a few good ones of our Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum and the Bradford Pear.
I have to say, this blog has been very handy for me to look at when I start wondering when things are going to bloom. Every Spring I think the same thing…when is this going to grow, when is that going to bud? I asked those questions last year, so I thought ahead. Last year, I began documenting (with photos), right here on this blog, when things start changing. Now, all I have to do is look at the archives on my blog to find out. Pretty cool…
Anyway, here are the photos I took yesterday:
This photo is our Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum. That’s a pretty cool tree, but the Japanese Beetles LOVE it. Beware. I hope to get some nice growth on it this year.
This is the Bradford Pear that we have in the front yard. It grows kind of slow, from what I have seen.
I will be taking more photos as the season goes on.
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Thursday, August 9th, 2007
Paul keeps on telling me not to use GrubEx to control Japanese Beetles, but to use Milky Spore instead. Apparently, he has been hit by the Japanese Beetle onslaught this year along with the rest of us.
Paul likes the idea of using Milky Spore because it isn’t an insecticide. It is a naturally occurring host specific bacterium (Bacillus popillae-Dutky). It is harmless to anything other than Japanese Beetle Grubs. This is good if you like to walk on your lawn or have pets and kids. It does need to be watered in, just like an insecticide thought.
The way you apply Milky Spore is different than you would apply an insecticide. Instead of spreading it with a lawn spreader, you pile it in small spots in a grid like pattern on your lawn. Over time, the milky spore is eaten by newly laid white grubs and they become infected by the bacterium. It takes a few years for the milky spore to completely kick in, but the stuff lasts for 15-20 years. That’s pretty damn good.
If this GrubEx that I already put down in the beginning of July doesn’t take care of the grub problem, I will put down milky spore next Autumn. That’s when grubs are at their hungriest and they are the most likely to eat the milky spore.
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Saturday, July 7th, 2007
I noticed a few Japanese Beetles eating up the leaves of my new Plum tree right before we left to go on our vacation. There were a few, and when I shook the tree, they would all take off like I just hit a bee hive.
Well, upon return to the property, I noticed a large number of Japanese Beetles. They are not on my Plum tree, Pear tree, Peach tree and Crabapple tree to name a few. I feel like I am under attack.
I read up on “Control of Japanese Beetle Adults and Grubs in Home Lawns” from a website I found. There are some things that people can do to help out this mess.
Last night, Laura and I decided to head down to Lowes to get some “Bag a Bug” traps. Here is a great post asking if the Bag a Bug traps really work. It’s kind of entertaining.
I knew those grubs were related to something. To get rid of the grubs, I think it all boils down to timing. If you have no idea what I am talking about, click on the control of Japanese Beetle link above.
We purchased 3 Bag a Bug traps. I set one up last night and nothing happened at all. It was too late. Japanese Beetles love the heat and sun. When the sun came out today, I notice Japanese Beetles flying all over the place. I was watching the first bag while setting up the second one and I actually saw Beetles buzzing around it, falling in the bag. These traps are very effective. I just hope we don’t attract all the Japanese Beetles in the neighborhood.
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