Japanese Beetles have been sighted throughout Fairfield County. They might be a little late compared to recent years, but they still know how to chew up your (and their) favorite plants.
Regularly inspect your garden and yard plants for beetles and feeding injuries. While numbers might be very low right now, it will not take too long for more beetles to arrive.
Remember that damaged leaves give off a volatile that it turn attracts more Japanese beetles. That makes it important to start management as soon as you see feeding on your plants to minimize injury.
Japanese beetles feed for six to eight weeks so it is important to continue management until their numbers decrease. Once they are present in large numbers, managing them becomes more difficult. Most feeding is finished by mid to late August.
Physically removing adults can be a good non-chemical option. Physically removing beetles can be a practical and effective management practice for smaller landscapes or a few plants, especially when only small numbers of Japanese beetles are present. Handpick or knock the beetles into a bucket of soapy water to kill them.
The best time to remove Japanese beetles is in the evening or in the morning when beetles on the plants are still cool and sluggish. However anytime that it can be done is still useful.
In some cases, it is possible to protect plants with fine netting to prevent beetle damage. However, do not cover plants in bloom that require pollination (i.e. fruits) as this will prevent pollinators from reaching them. Instead, handpick beetles until the plant is done blooming and starting to set fruit, then cover it.
Don't use Japanese beetle traps. Hanging a trap in a home garden is not an effective way to protect plants. And they may attract more insects to your yard. The traps attract beetles using synthetic female sex pheromones and a blend of chemicals with a strong floral odor. They were developed by researchers to monitor for the presence of Japanese beetles so that management strategies could be implemented. While these traps can collect an impressive number of beetles, research at the University of Kentucky has demonstrated that more beetles fly toward the traps than are caught. This usually results in more damage to nearby gardens and landscape plants than would have happened if no traps were present.
Keeping English Ivy under control
While English ivy (Hedera helix) is a nice ground cover it can quickly get out of control. It is a non-native woody, perennial vine that has been used extensively in landscapes. English ivy reproduces from seed that is dispersed by birds when they eat the fruit. It can also spread vegetatively and can root from cut vines or stems.
The plant grows vertically as it attaches to various structures, but it also becomes a ground cover when it can’t grow upwards. When left to grow unchecked, it will climb up into trees and eventually cover the foliage, which kills the branches. It also adds considerable weight to the tree making it more susceptible to limb breakage or complete failure.
When English ivy is utilized as a ground cover, it can grow up against landscape shrubs and trees. This can make them susceptible to rodent damage by providing hiding places where the voles and mice can feed undisturbed. English ivy growing vertically on buildings uses root-like structures to anchor itself. This makes it extremely difficult to just pull off of the structure, and can eventually damage the structure itself. Finally, it is a reservoir host for the bacterial leaf scorch that is a serious disease that affects oaks, maples and other native trees.
This is a tough plant to manage once it has established itself as a ground cover and vine. Hand-pulling or mowing as much as possible is a good mechanical start. Young regrowth foliage is more susceptible to an herbicide application because the leaves are less waxy. Glyphosate (Roundup and others) or triclopyr (Garlon) can be applied to young foliage or to the stem/vine by cutting and applying directly into the wound. The “glove of death” can also be used for precise foliar application. If you are not familiar with this method, put on a chemical resistant glove (nitrile and some rubber ones can be used) then put on a fabric or cotton glove. Apply concentrated glyphosate or triclopyr on the outer glove then touch the plant.
Fairfield County Junior Fair Beef Feeder
- Beef Feeder possession is Aug. 15. All beef feeder animals exhibited must have been completely and fully owned and in the complete possession and continual care of the exhibitor on and after the designated date.
- All beef feeder exhibitors will submit the EID 840 tag number by August 20th (within 5 days of August 15th possession date) to the OSU Extension Office for each beef feeder animal. If an animal currently has an EID 840 tag in place, this tag will be used as the official fair identification. No DNA hair sample will be required for feeder calves.
- If needed, feeder calf exhibitors will be able to pick up 840 EID tags from OSU Extension (tags provided by the Senior Fair).
Upcoming events
With many vegetable gardens in full production now is this time many folks begin to think about food preservation. Did you know you can have your dial gauge canners tested at OSU Extension in Fairfield County? It is very easy to simply call for an appointment at 740-653-5419 and drop off your canner lid. It could be tested while you wait or you can return later and pick up at your convenience. It is important to check dial gauges for accuracy before use each year. Gauges that read high cause under-processing and may result in unsafe food. Low readings cause over-processing. Pressure adjustments can be made if the gauge reads up to 2 pounds high or low. Replace gauges that differ by more than 2 pounds.
Let's Preserve Series – at Keller Market House, 134 S. Columbus Street, Lancaster. Are you planning to preserve summer produce? Join Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and Sandy Bohl, instructor, with Ohio State University Extension Fairfield County to learn more. Call 740-653-5419 to register
Dehydrating: Tuesday, Aug. 6, 6 to 7 p.m.
Canning Basics: Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Let's Preserve Series at Wagnalls Memorial Library
Dehydrating Thursday., Aug. 8, 6 to 7 p.m.
Canning Basics (water bath/pressure) Thursday, Aug. 22, 6 to 7:30 p.m
Registration: Call Wagnall’s Memorial Library to register 614-837-4765Questions: contact Shannon Carter, carter.413@osu.edu or 740-653-5419
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