A Common Kitchen Ingredient Keeps Japanese Beetles Out Of Your Garden For Good

There are many pests out there that seem dedicated to ensuring your garden never grows as well as it should. However, very few bugs are quite as annoying as Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica), besides maybe the tree-killing pest you should keep an eye on in your yard.

These beetles are generalists, willing to eat from more than 300 different plants commonly grown in gardens and lawns. Originally, these bugs were native to Japan and other parts of Asia, but they migrated over to the United States in 1916 and quickly made themselves a home in most of the central and eastern states. They often appear in large groups and stay on the plants they're eating, making them easy to identify. Lacy leaf skeletons and large holes on leaves as well as patchy pale grass are signs the larvae and the adult beetles are in your yard. 

They're not dangerous to humans, just frustrating to anyone wanting a nice lawn or garden. The only positive about this insect is that they're easily identifiable. They're a little under half an inch in length, with an oval body. They are green, but have wing covers that are somewhat copper in color. If you see these beetles around, you'll want to remove them quickly. Thankfully, all you need is a simple kitchen ingredient most people already have on hand: garlic. A garlic spray is the perfect way to keep pests like Japanese beetles far from your garden, and it's easy to make at home.

The Garlic Farm has an excellent recipe for making bug-repellent garlic spray. To make it, you need a whole head of garlic. Crush the cloves into small pieces, or place them in a food processor if you have one. Blend the garlic with roughly a cup of water until it's finely crushed and fragrant. 

Once crushed, mix the garlic with three more cups of water and five tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Mix, blend, or shake the mixture and let it sit overnight to really allow the garlic to be absorbed by the liquid. After it sits, it's a good idea to strain the mixture and pour it into a spray bottle. While leaving in the garlic makes it more potent, it may also clog the nozzle, so it's best to remove any chunks. If you need a little extra strength in your spray, a few drops of an essential oil like tea tree oil will help. To extend how long the mixture lasts, place it in the fridge when you aren't using it.

Garlic isn't only for removing Japanese beetles. Thanks to its strong odors, garlic in your garden will keep pests far away, such as aphids, flies, and armyworms. The one downside to using this natural spray is that it doesn't last long. You'll have to reapply every few days and immediately after rainfall for maximum effectiveness. 

Garlic is the best weapon against Japanese beetles for many reasons. While it doesn't kill them, the fragrant plant will keep them far away from you and your garden. If you want a more permanent solution, though, you'll have to get a little close and personal with the insects. 

Unfortunately, you can't just squish these beetles. When crushed, they release pheromones that attract others of their species. This makes it a bit of a struggle to kill them, as you have to be careful to do so without activating the pheromone. Many people spend time in their garden picking off Japanese beetles by hand and dropping them in soapy water. 

While this is one of the fastest and most effective methods for eliminating these beetles, not everyone is a fan of touching insects with their bare hands. Neem oil is also sometimes suggested. While neem oil is a popular pesticide, there is some debate on whether it is toxic or not, which is why you should think twice before using this popular pesticide in your garden. Overall, garlic is safe to use in your garden, the spray won't harm your family or your plants, and it doesn't require you to touch the beetles to get rid of them, which is why it's one of the best options to try when these irritating Japanese beetles start attacking your garden.