Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles first arrived in Northeast Kansas 4 years ago, and now have a strong foothold to the western wilds. Every year their numbers seem to increase, but then, so do the predators that eat them. Since their arrival, I have seen an exponential increase in tachinid flies and wheel bugs. History of Japanese Beetles […]
Destructive Turf Pests: Grubs
The American lawn is often the most expensive part of the landscape. We strive for that beautiful greenspace, free of weeds, free of pests, and a delight to our friends and neighbors. But getting that lawn can be a real challenge, especially for those of us in the Great Plains. We have to deal with […]
Add Beautiful Rose-of-Sharon to the Landscape
Rose of Sharon is a beautiful, long-blooming shrub for the landscape. It can be used in a variety of ways, from hedges and screens to focal points in pollinator gardens and there are even tree forms available. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is native to China and India. In the United States it is a […]
Year in Review: Insect Pests
2018 was quite the year for insect pests. We saw a huge increase in Japanese beetle numbers, as well as a large population of grasshoppers. Lets discuss these and other insects seen this year. While my viewing area is limited to Northeast Kansas and Southeast Nebraska, this seems to be a hotbed for insect […]
Maintaining A Garden for Butterflies
By now, many of you have planted your butterfly gardens or Monarch Waystations in hope of seeing butterflies feeding—both adults and larvae. It can be difficult for experienced gardeners and landscapers to look upon a garden and see it getting eaten up by caterpillars. However, knowing that these caterpillars are the next generation of butterflies […]
