As a gardener, you understand that while your flowers may bloom beautifully in the spring and summer, your garden is actually a war zone. There’s a constant struggle in keeping your plants thriving instead of succumbing to the hungry mouths of certain insects and animals. One particular menace tends to rear its ugly head during the May and June months. It is appropriately called the June Bug. While there are multiple variations of the June Bug, they all more or less belong to the same beetle family that hails from the scarab. These annoying critters can severely damage your plants, so this article will cover a few methods on how you can keep your garden free from their destructive campaign.
What June Bugs Do
So, what do June Bugs exactly do to plants? Besides just eating the entire plant–as in from the step and up–they also can wreak havoc on the soil. Because they lay their eggs in the soil, the larvae ended up hatching and burrowing in the soil. This eventually makes the soil spongy when too many tunnels are created. Besides that, June Bugs also enjoy eating moss and bark on trees, so they leave behind bald spots on those beautiful trees around your garden that can damage the tree. Finally, they also attract other predators like moles, gophers, and other such small creatures that can burrow into your garden and cause even more of a mess.
- Pesticide
The most obvious action you can take is to equip yourself with pesticides. However, if you’re unsure of what pesticide to use, you may want to consider hiring a professional to perform the task for you. After all, you could very easily damage your plants as well, or the greenery surrounding your garden. Pesticides are powerful killers, and you should understand the consequences of each one. A professional team can take a look at the garden and understand how best to treat it. After they’ve sprayed the area, those June Bugs should be long gone.
- Nematodes
Another method you may consider is by placing nematodes in your garden. These little guys enjoy eating the larvae of June Bugs, and so will spend their time removing the cause of those June Bug worries before they even begin. Essentially, the nematode enters the larvae body and feeds on it from within until it eventually dies. This is an excellent method for those who prefer to stay away from pesticides and toxic chemicals.
- Tomatoes
By growing tomatoes, you can have your very own bug repellent. The leaves of the tomato plant work as a natural bug repellent that can ward off June Bugs and other insects. By planting a few around your garden, you can keep it pest free whilst enjoying some free tomatoes come time to harvest. You may wish to consult a professional on where best to place these plants to receive a maximum effect.