The Rustic Elk

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • Hearth + Hollow
  • Harvest to Jar
  • Feral Kitchen
  • Apothecary + Alchemy
  • Venison + Wild Game
  • Wild + Seasonal Living
search icon
Homepage link
  • Start Here
  • Hearth + Hollow
  • Harvest to Jar
  • Feral Kitchen
  • Apothecary + Alchemy
  • Venison + Wild Game
  • Wild + Seasonal Living
×

9 Tips on How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles Naturally

Published: July 11, 2019 • Modified: December 16, 2024 • By: Elle • As an amazon affiliate I earn commissions on qualifying purchases

Japanese beetles... yuck.

Japanese beetles can be repelled from your garden.

They were accidentally introduced to the United States just earlier this century, and they have got to be one of the most obnoxious garden pests in existence.

Despite the fact that they're actually only out and active munching on your plants 6-8 weeks out of the year, it seems like an eternity of fighting with them.

I dread Japanese beetles (like most gardeners) because they can completely destroy a harvest in no time flat. And it always seems like they are impossible to get rid of.

However, there are a few ways you can get rid of Japanese beetles so they're not destroying your harvest. The best part, they are completely natural solutions! I don't like to use synthetic chemicals at all, but especially on my food, so these methods will work without having to use stuff I don't agree with.

9 Tips on How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles Naturally

Hand Pick Them Off

I know, I know. Why is it the most effective way to get rid of almost any garden pest is by picking the creepy crawlies off by hand? Well, unfortunately, that's just the name of gardening. It is easiest to collect them in the morning time. They are most active, but they're sluggish. Just pick them off and throw them in a bucket of water to drown.

Neem Oil

Until I really started getting into gardening and natural remedies, I had never even heard of neem oil. But, it is fairly effective at helping you curb the population of Japanese beetles. You can make a spray and spray it on your plants. The adults ingest a chemical in the neem oil that they will pass on to their eggs. Essentially wiping out a new generation of beetles. You need to reapply after any rain.

Bring on the Guinea Fowl

We added 6 guinea fowl to our flock this year and I am so glad we did. They can be quite noisy, but thankfully I love their sounds. They also have beautiful feathers and will eat just about any bug in existence. They're great pest control birds. They won't tear up your garden and they'll eat anything that bugs it.

If you have tall foliage, they may not be able to reach it. But, they can take care of the bottoms of all of your plants for you! I love having our guineas around (they eat ticks, too, which is awesome).

Cover Your Rows

Like I said earlier, Japanese beetles are only active from 6-8 weeks a year. So, you can just use floating row covers during that 6-8 week period to protect your plants beginning in mid-June.

Don't Use Traps

You'll find Japanese beetle traps are plentiful. However, I do not recommend using them. They attract the beetles to your area, which can make problems worse than they would have been. The store bought traps contain a pheromone to attract them. The homemade traps using fermented fruit cocktail also attract them. So, ditch the traps unless you want to attract even more bugs to your property....

Geraniums

Did you know Japanese beetles love geraniums? They do. However, they'll eat the blossoms and fall down, dead. So, you can plant geraniums around the edges of your garden or near plants you don't want them to ravage and it will help protect them a little bit!

Garlic

Garlic and Japanese beetles (most pests, in fact) are not friends. You can plant garlic around your most precious plants and help repel them fairly effectively.

Beneficial Nematodes

Japanese beetles start our as icky little grubs in the soil that can also wreak havoc on your garden and root systems. However, there is a way to combat them. While a lot of people recommend milky spore, it can take several years to become effective and it only controls the grubs of Japanese beetles. Beneficial nematodes, however will control all grubs and they do not take years to be effective.

Beneficial nematodes are applied as a live product so ensure that wherever you get them from has handled them carefully to ensure they are still alive. Dead nematodes won't do anything for grub control.

Don't Water Your Lawn

I'm not much of a yard/lawn person. What isn't dedicated to livestock or garden space on our property is free to do as it pleases. I mow, of course, as I don't want my property full of unwanted guests, but pretty lawns just aren't my thing. I don't water it, and I hope you don't, either. But, if you do, stop. You're just asking for those little grubs to come multiply under your grass and create a whole new generation of obnoxious, garden eating pests.

Japanese beetles are an obnoxious pest. Gardeners complain about them every year (for good reason). But, with a little diligence and planning you can keep them away from your garden.

Other Natural Garden Pest Control Posts:

How to Naturally Control Cabbage Worms

Natural Squash Bug Control

If you're looking for ideas on how to reconnect with your food, nature, and the heritage way of life, you've come to the right place.


Join over 40,000 like-minded folks in my Facebook group, The Self Sufficient Life. You can join by clicking here.

More Vegetable Gardening

  • image showcasing a variety of freshly harvested perennial vegetables arranged on a rustic wooden table. The selection includes leafy greens, asparagus, rhubarb, and leeks, accented with fresh herbs like chives or oregano. Soft, dramatic lighting highlights the textures and earthy tones, creating an inviting and natural gardening theme.
    20 Perennial Vegetables You Need In Your Garden
  • Best DIY Tomato Trellis to Support Tomatoes
  • Galvanized raised garden bed by Olle® in midnight grey
    The Best Raised Beds to Make Gardening a Breeze
  • Bush bean plants in a garden with harvested beans in a basket
    Growing Bush Beans in the Backyard Garden

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Adrienne says

    July 24, 2018 at 4:35 pm

    I definitely agree with not using the store bought japanese beetle traps! I've had some experience with them and they honestly do not seem to work at all; if anything making the problem worse.

    Reply
    • Eileen kawas says

      July 17, 2020 at 10:44 am

      Can I throw peeled garlic in my dirt they are attacking my zuccini

      Reply
      • Danielle McCoy says

        July 21, 2020 at 9:39 am

        I'd make a spray with garlic and spray it on the leaves of the plant (test it to be sure). Putting peeled garlic in the soil probably won't be very effective for adults, especially on a tall plant.

        Reply
  2. Maria N says

    July 15, 2022 at 9:36 am

    In regards to watering your lawn. If using beneficial nematodes you must soak your lawn prior to application and keep the soil somewhat moist for them to be effective. (Alive) They are incredibly effective, and inexpensive.

    Reply
Danielle McCoy standing in a warmly lit kitchen, wearing a brown embroidered top, with long wavy dark hair, a layered necklace, and a confident expression. The background features wooden cabinets, a microwave, and kitchen essentials.

Rooted in the wild, grounded in real life. I’m Elle— fiercely opinionated, and over the purity culture BS. Here, you’ll find wild flavors, seasonal traditions, and practical skills—no fear-mongering, no food guilt, just good food and feral wisdom.

More About Me

Popular

  • image featuring natural squirrel repellents arranged on a rustic wooden surface. Items include a small bowl of cayenne pepper, an amber spray bottle, fresh mint leaves, and a scattering of black peppercorns. Soft, dramatic lighting emphasizes the natural textures and earthy tones, creating a practical and inviting setup for home and garden pest control.
    Best Natural Squirrel Repellent Ideas for Home
  • Close-up of juicy smoked pork butt shredded into pulled pork and topped with barbecue sauce on a wooden cutting board
    Easy Smoked Pork Butt Recipe (Tender + Juicy Every Time)
  • Close-up of saucy smoked pork ribs on a wooden cutting board, cooked using the 3-2-1 method until tender and falling off the bone.
    Smoked Pork Ribs (the best 3-2-1 baby back ribs)
  • Smoked chicken legs arranged on a sheet pan
    Smoked Chicken Legs with Crispy Skin (Easy Pellet Grill Recipe with Dry Rub)

Seasonal

  • A ball jar with honey fermented cranberries with a jar of honey in the background and a honey dipper and fresh cranberries are in the foreground.
    Fermented Honey Cranberries
  • A rustic bowl of pastina soup with fresh herbs and grated Parmesan, styled on a dark wooden table. The soup is surrounded by scattered dry pastina, lemon slices, and fresh parsley for a cozy and inviting presentation.
    Quick and Easy Pastina Soup | Italian Penicillin Soup
  • A jar of four thieves vinegar steeping with fresh herbs.
    Four Thieves Vinegar Recipe and Uses
  • A rustic glass bottle filled with deep purple elderberry syrup, surrounded by fresh lemon halves, a piece of ginger, and a wooden spoon with elderberries scattered on a wooden surface. The scene is warmly lit, emphasizing the natural ingredients and homemade feel of the syrup.
    Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Easy, Potent & Immune-Boosting!)

Footer

↑ back to top

Privacy

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

About

  • About Elle
  • Start Here

Contact

  • Contact
  • Press & Media

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 The Rustic Elk