Japanese beetles are voracious pests that can destroy a garden in no time. They are difficult to fight with pesticides, but there are myriad natural ways to get rid of these obnoxious insects. You can get rid of Japanese beetles naturally by planting useful plants and taking some simple steps to make them more susceptible to their natural predators.
Plant cloves of garlic around the perimeter of your garden. This plant deters the insects from entering the garden and, at the same time, makes a tasty treat. Plant the cloves individually and, if you have a large garden, intersperse them with the other plants as well.
Trap the beetles early in the morning. Spread a plastic sheet out under the plants early in the morning while dew is still on the ground. Shake the plants so the beetles fall onto the sheet. The dew makes their wings too heavy for flight. Once they are on the sheet, you can drown them in a pail of soapy water.
Rake the soil in your garden each fall. Starlings are natural predators of Japanese beetles and love to eat their young, tender grubs. Turning the soil with the rake will expose the young beetles and make easy pickings for hungry birds.