Beware Of Japanese Beetles And Bagworms  

Now is the time to be watching your plants closely for insect damage, especially Japanese Beetles and Bagworms.  Japanese Beetles are characterized by their shiny metallic green head and thorax and coppery-red colored wings.  Infestations have been reported in Iowa since 1994, and can cause significant damage to your plants and gardens.  Japanese Beetles "skeletonize" plants, which means they consume the foliage by eating the tissue between the veins.  If you notice this on any of your plants, look closely both on and around the plant to attempt to find the Beetles.  Spot spraying infested foliage with products like Sevin may reduce damage for several days, but multiple applications are required to maintain control.  Click here to read more about these pests.

Bagworms are another problem here in Iowa that are commonly noticed in late summer and early fall.  These pests devour the foliage of several species of fruit, shade and ornamental trees, as well as evergreen shrubs. Some common hosts include red cedar, arborvitae, juniper, white pine, crabapple, and honeylocust. They can cause complete defoliation, which may result in a severely weakened or dead host.  Unfortunately, by the time you see the characteristic "bags" that these worms form, it is too late to chemically control the problem. The best option is to hand-pick or cut the bags from the host. To dispose of the bags and kill the eggs, you can either burn the bags or soak them in a bucket of soapy water.  Click here to read more about these pests.

 

This gorgeous Clethra has bright pink flowers that bloom in mid summer and will not fade to white like earlier varieties. Its flowers are fragrant and will attract butterflies!  Add a splash of color to your landscape with this beautiful shrub!

Height: 3-6'

Width: 3-4'

Exposure: Full sun to shade

Foliage: Deep green

Fall Foliage: Yellow

Zone: 4-9