We’ve had several calls from customers about damage to their landscape plants because of insects. Some insects can cause temporary destruction but will not harm the overall health of a plant, while others can cause irreparable damage. We want to provide you with some resources for assessing what is happening at your home and offer help to prevent or repair the damage, so you and your family can enjoy the full beauty of your outdoor living space.
If you have rose bushes, you may have seen the return of the Japanese beetles feasting away in the last few
weeks on your rose petals. While the good news is that their damage is temporary in most cases, they can ruin the beauty of your roses while they are active. Japanese beetles are attracted to many ornamental plants, and we’ve seen their damage on crabapple, cherry and linden trees in our area, among others. One more thing about the Japanese beetles: while traps are readily available to buy and hang in your yard, we don’t recommend them. The traps just attract more beetles to your yard, and may aggravate the problem.
Another common question is in regards to crabapple trees. Many of our crabapples are affected by apple 
scab this year. If you’ve noticed small black to green spots that seem to grow on the leaves or fruit of your crabapple, they may be apple scab. While unsightly and unappetizing, this fungus can cause serious damage and should not be ignored. A good way to prevent it next year is to do a thorough cleanup this fall, removing all affected leaves and branches from the tree. Don’t add them to your compost pile as the fungus can overwinter. In many cases, the tree will recover.
In the last few weeks we’ve received reports of damage to viburnum bushes. These popular, fragrant shrubs are a favorite in our area and we want to make sure they stay healthy for years. The Viburnum leaf beetle feeds on the leaves of the plant and will cause major damage, if allowed. They can be treated with a chemical spray in early July when adult insects are present.
Our landscape shrubs, plants and trees are a major investment in the beauty and value of our homes, and it is well worth the effort spent to keep them healthy. O’Donovan Landscaping has designed and installed custom landscapes and hardscapes for residents of the Naperville area for over 45 years. Our design center in Naperville and our nursery in Plainfield will provide you with the materials you need to create and enjoy your outdoor living space for years. Call the design center at 630-355-3370, or the nursery at 815-436-6806 to get started.
