I fortunately have seen very few JBs this year, although other nasties have been munching on my rose buds. I think the culprits are grasshoppers and katydids. I recently planted roses and killed every grub that I dug up. It has been dry here. I don't know if this helps, although it's not good for my gardens or our well. I also don't have a lawn, just perennial/rose beds and gravel paths. I'm hoping that maybe the grubs aren't finding enough to eat since no expanse of lawn roots for them to feed on. A question about Milky Spore. Can it be used in garden beds or is it only for use with lawns? I'm not sure how the nematode is spread. Sharon

buford, thanks a lot. I've put up with enough without using some pesticides. Sometimes compomises are necessary. If it was just my small yard, it might not be so bad, but so little is being done about them in my locale, they are going to get out of control from people not fighting them. Some people don't even know they are here yet because they don't grow roses. I did see two homes not far from me with beetle traps. One house less than 2 blocks from me had one hanging right by the mass of roses in their front yard, don't know how often they emptied it. I walked by there after the beetles were gone, and saw no damage to the roses there. BUT all I remember of those roses, they are pink, think Carefree Beauty. Yellow and orange ones are THE worst at attracting them. My favorites, of course. I didn't see it myself, but someone told me that in the park on the mulberry trees down the by creek along a lengthy bike path, they were so bad, they were hanging from the trees in chains. I don't know what the city will do about those, if anything. The only thing I know being done was traps in the city park rose garden. Some garden centers don't seem to get too bothered by them. I figure it's partly due to all that asphalt surrounding them because there is no place left to lay eggs, but as they get worse, the beetles will find it all if it's outside. One mailman last year went to work, came home that evening to a completely defoliated elm tree he had just planted. I will also try to do something about the grubs, but as before, with so few people fighting them, it will do little good. It takes community awareness, effort and dedicated cooperation in the worst heat of the year with high humidity which makes it even more difficult to make any significant inroads toward reducing their numbers. I think you're ok with your imidacloprid if you cut the bloom off after you spray it because of its residual effects, small price to pay for saving a few bees.

Don't you just love Harry's picture? Connie had mentioned we talk about JBs and roses because this is a rose form. This is very true. JBs are destroyers of many other plants besides roses. There are a few I keep around just to let them feast. Pussy Willows do come to mind right away. Linden trees, Crabapple trees are all plants that the JB will consider much more tasty. I've found that Neem Oil does help to dissuade JBs a good bit from the roses. It also helps with fungus disease such as black spot. I used it a lot last summer with fairly good results. Also, geraniums is a good distraction for JBs. I will often plant seed geraniums around my rose beds, or near them. The JBs enjoy them, but the plant sports a chemical that the JBs can't handle, giving them a belly ache and killing them. However, I don't suggest you go spend hundreds on seed geraniums but try them first. I've also put milky spore down. I've heard reports that it really doesn't work anymore, but I beg to differ. I still get JBs, but they aren't destroying my yard like they did in the past. Nor do I get visitors such as opposum and skunk like I did. Being out in the middle of farmer's fields, there's not a lot I can do against the JBs, but they don't like to go to far to lay their eggs and my lawn is a nice place to do that. Each year, you can see the swarming females preparing to lay their eggs in my lawn. At least the milky spore will stop those grubs; and with those grubs maybe millions more. The only other chemical besides the Neem Oil that has worked for me is Sevin. But Sevin is such a strong contact killer, it kills everything. I have a wildflower/English/American Country garden and it's full of birds, butterflies, bees and any assortment of wildlife. Husband likes to use it and I will tolerate that during the densest population of the JBs (only about once a year). I also told him to be sure to do only the rose bushes and keep it off the rest of the plants. Since I've put restrictions on it's use in my garden I've noticed more honey bees and other forms of wildlife more frequently. JBs are a pain in the posterior, but I'm still a rose gardener first.

You have a good point Kate, however it's all organic and I see it as protective, not overkill. The main reason I purchased was for the brown spot that one of the hydrangeas had. I haven't seen it harm any of the good insects as bees are buzzing around them . I think it's good to have a product that takes care of any of the "issues" we may encounter with the hydrangeas, but I'm just a newbie so maybe some one with more experience with this product can give more information. /forums/zone.html">Zone (optional): Subject of Posting: Message: Optional Link URL:    Name of the Link: Information about Posting You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account. Please review our Rules of Play before posting. Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos. After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it. Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use. We have a strict no-advertising policy! If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum. If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help. Learn more about in-text links on this page here Return to the Hydrangea Forum Most Recent Posts Bought a Dell PC from Costco â¢Â by ellie45 windrow â¢Â by Theodorus Mysterious Stains on White Clothing LG front load â¢Â by sparky823 Older Daylilies (1990 or Earlier) â¢Â by billi_goats_gruff Need help designing Courtyard â¢Â by Yardvaark Pulling water from creek for irrigation. â¢Â by mctabish1 Railroad ties â¢Â by bozarth My adenium blooming under lights. â¢Â by Christine20 Is this Millipedes in my houseplant soil? â¢Â by ronalawn82 Tree Fuschia at Palais Royales de Laeken, Brussel, Belgium â¢Â by sandyslopes Explore GardenWeb Ann's Cream Cheese Babka Perfect for Holiday Baking Feeding Hummingbirds Will...