Newsletter

The Japanese Beetle

Commonly known as the ‘jitterbug’ the beetle is about 1.5 cm long and the width is 1 cm wide. The Japanese beetle destroys rose bushes, grapes, canna, crape myrtles and other plants by eating. The jitterbug is deadly to a garden eating everything in sight. Setting traps for beetles actually attracts more than what is being caught, thus causing more damage to the plants. The beetle springs up in late May or early June. The average life span is 30-45 days. Normally people see a decline in late July however some are still seen at the start of September. Odor and direct sunlight are two major factors on deciding which plants they want to feast on. The beetle typically flies 1-2 miles but they can fly up to 5 miles at a time. An interesting fact about the jitterbug is that it does not cause damage in its native land Japan; only in the United States it causes deadly harm to vegetation.

Quick Summary

Native land is Japan
Destroys over 300 plants
Cannot be trapped
Appear in late May
Flies up to 5 miles
Lifespan is 30-45 days

The Japanese Maple

The Acer Palmatum ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum’ otherwise known as the Japanese Maple come in over 300 variations. It is a small – medium tree which is green in the spring and summer and in the fall it turns red. The maple is rarely destroyed by bugs or air pollution. The best time to plant the Japanese maple is in the spring when all the frost has melted. Pruning the tree is very easy and efficient. By pruning the tree you can control the size and shape that the tree forms. The maple can be easily transported from one location to the next no matter what the size. Their native home is from Japan, northeast China, and Korea where they are shaded by other trees; therefore the tree should be put in partial shade so it doesn’t get scorched by the sun.

Quick Summary

Over 300 variations
Native from Japan, Korea and northeast China
Needs to be partially shaded
Green in spring and summer, red in fall

Importance of Watering Plants

The number one most important rule while having plants is watering them on. When provided with too little water, the plant will under develop and will become more susceptible to pests. By looking at your plants you can determine if they need water or not. If the soil is dry half an inch down then it is time to give your plant some water. If the temperature is in the mid 70s then watering once a week should be enough. However, if the temperature hits the mid 90s then watering every other day is necessary. It is better to give your plants one good watering a week (yes it can be time consuming) but it is much healthier for your plants rather than watering here and there with a sprinkler. Irrigation systems can save you a lot of time and effort with large gardens. Always water at the base of plant and watering in the morning is the absolute best time.

Quick Tips

Water plants when soil is dry a half inch from surface
Irrigation systems are the best way
Water plant from its base
Temp is 70, water once a week. Temp is 90, water every other day


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