When Pests Hit and Berries Ripen

Japanese beetles are out in force—but so are the raspberries. Here’s what we’re doing this week to protect the garden, plant for next season, and put fruit to good use.

Author

The Grounded Homestead
June 17, 2025

Weekly roundup

A Bowl of Berries and a Bucket of Beetles

From fighting off the Japanese beetle swarm to planting new canes and baking raspberry buckle, it’s been a hands-in-the-dirt kind of week.

Homestead Happenings

Beetles, Berries, and the Bowl Trick

It’s Japanese beetle season here, and the raspberry leaves are getting torn to lace. If you’ve walked out to your patch and felt that gut-sinking frustration, you’re not alone.

I’ve been knocking beetles into a bowl of soapy water every morning like clockwork—no sprays, no chemicals, just quiet persistence. Netting is up now too, which helps cut off their aerial assault.

Japanese beetles feasting on my poor raspberry plant

These beetles don’t care how long you’ve been growing. They’ll hit your healthiest patch like it’s a buffet. That’s why I wrote up a full guide on the six most common raspberry pests, including how to handle them naturally, without hurting your plants—or your soil.

Strawberry Plant Health

Common Strawberry Plant Diseases—and How to Treat Them Naturally

Strawberry disease doesn’t come out of nowhere. Most outbreaks trace back to three root causes:

  • Too much moisture

  • Poor airflow

  • Infected soil or plants

If you can manage those, you’re already ahead of the curve.

Here are 4 prevention practices that make a real difference:

  • Mulch with clean straw to keep fruit off the soil and discourage mold

  • Water at the base in the early morning—not overhead, and never in the evening

  • Space plants properly for airflow (overcrowding invites disease)

  • Remove old leaves after harvest to cut down on overwintering spores

Raspberry Tips

How to Plant Raspberries for a Lifetime of Fruit

If your raspberries are struggling year after year, chances are the issue started before you even put a cane in the ground. Most planting mistakes aren’t about technique—they’re about location.

Here’s what I look for before digging a single hole:

  • Full sun—raspberries need 6–8 hours minimum

  • Good drainage—if water pools after rain, it’s not the right spot

  • Strong airflow to prevent mildew and pest buildup

  • Avoid former tomato, pepper, or eggplant beds—they share soil-borne diseases

My raspberry patch planted on raised beds down a sloping hill for optimal drainage.

Once you’ve got the right location, planting is simple but specific. Dig wide, not deep. Space plants at least 2 feet apart. And cut the cane back to 6 inches the first year to encourage root growth over top growth.

The full post walks through everything step by step—from choosing your spot to getting your first fruiting season off on the right foot.

Use those Raspberries

Rustic Raspberry Buckle

A farmhouse classic with real fruit, real butter, and just the right amount of sweet. Serve it warm—breakfast or dessert doesn’t matter.

That’s it for this week.

Keep showing up, keep cheering each other on — and as always, garden happy! You will be rewarded!

The Grounded Homestead