this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2025
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I've ordered some creeping thyme seeds because that attracts tachinid flies to help control them but was wondering if there are other plants that are both good for the cherry tree while also combating japanese beetles?

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Don’t want to harsh your buzz, but I have a patch of thyme that’s 6 feet by 3 feet and several years old only 10 feet or so from a plum tree and a rose bush that nevertheless get hammered hard by Japanese beetles every year.

Invest in a sprayer and some neem oil.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This is kind of why I am posting this, I figure thyme will not be enough on its own given how bad japanese beetles get, so am asking for other things I can plant to help control them passively meaning less work for me in the long run, having to constantly spray them is something I am looking to avoid if possible.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Just saw this video where they talk about attracting ground beetles to hunt the japanese beetles. About 7 minutes in https://youtu.be/TIaYP99MKFM

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Will definitely do some planting to attract these, I think I'm somewhat out of luck for this year so am gonna have to get scent traps but hopefully plants will be established by next summer and attracting the right bugs to kill off the beetles