Treat trees now to prevent Japanese beetles

By BETH WHEELOCK ( Contact ) Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008

Podcast Episode

WCLO's Beth Wheelock reports on the best treatments as you winterize your garden.

Treating trees now can prevent Japanese beetles from infesting them in 2009.

UW-Extension Horticulture Educator Mike Maddox says the active ingredient is called imidacloprid (pronounced ih-mid-ah-CLO-prid) and it can be found in most garden centers and hardware stores. The treatment is something the average homeowner can do themselves. He says the right time to treat the trees is after the leaves fall but before the ground freezes.

Also, as it gets chillier, Maddox recommends pulling tomatoes and other warm-season plants when nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees. He says if you don't pull them soon, the plants will be mush when you try to pull them later.

Scroll down for an audio feature with more fall tips.

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