Saturday, September 05, 2009

Pests

This is our first year with a vegetable garden in Illinois. The garden has been abundant.

Unfortunately, so too are the weeds and the garden pests.

The weeds are at least manageable. The pests? Not so much.

Sadly, everything growing on a vine is being consumed by voracious Japanese beetles and (here's a new one for my science collection) the striped cucumber beetle.

Since we eat out of this garden, I am apprehensive to try chemical insecticides; but I am at an impasse for what to do to be rid of them.

Perhaps some notes left in the garden explaining my position will encourage them to move along.

2 comments:

Michelle said...

Last year in PA we had a horrible time with Japanese beetles. At Lowe's there's a bag that attracts the beetles and when they fall into the bag, are unable to get out. No pesticides on your fruits/veggies. It worked very well for us. We used two bags placed in different areas of the yard.

Jane (a.k.a. patjrsmom) said...

Thanks, Michelle! We have one of these bags ready to be put up for tomorrow! Do you know if they'll also take care of the cucumber bugs?