How to keep away harmful garden pests?

Posted on September 15, 2020 in Gardening

Harmful garden pests can really ruin a garden and discourage enthusiasts. And while there are many pests naturally occurring in the environment, there are also various solutions and practices that could be implemented to save your garden. All the hard work you have put into the maintenance of your garden should not be wasted just because unwanted predators decided to feast on your greenery.

Wrap your head around the fact that organic gardening attracts a lot of pests. Thus, learning how to control garden plagues is vital for the well-being of your plants. The best part is you can reach your pest-free goals without extensive use of pesticides or insecticides. Keep on reading to find out how they can be outsmarted and kept away naturally.

The most harmful garden pests

Insects are the most common pests in gardens, but they are not always “bad”. As a gardener, you must be able to identify if an insect is going to hurt your plants or help them grow by taking care of the actual harmful bugs. Make sure you conduct proper inspections to detect pest infestations in their early stage. Once encountered, a pest situation can be handled in an environmentally-friendly way.

Take a look at the list of the most destructive garden pests with advice on how to mind them:

Caterpillars

This pest bug feeds on ornamental and shade trees, as well as most fruits and vegetables. A caterpillar infestation can be distinguished by the chew marks along the plant’s margins and leaves, and the tunnels dug into fruits.

In order to fight the pest and deter it, you can apply some helpful practices. One of the best-known methods to restrain caterpillar access to the crops is applying floating row covers. Also, make sure to always handpick your harvest. Finally, try to encourage beneficial insects and parasites that are natural predators hunting caterpillars.

Armyworm

The armyworm surely deserves its name as it moves in a pack with fellow armyworms and it is absolutely destructive to garden plants. This pest is lethal to many crops as it is most active at night and feeds on every greenery on its way. Indeed the bug has a huge appetite, it chews on everything from leaves, kernels, stem to panicles and flowers.

The first thing you can do as a natural pest control is to introduce more beneficial insects to the garden as they will defend it from the armyworm intruders. Ladybugs, lacewings and trichogramma wasps will feed on armyworm eggs and young larvae. If the contagion is intolerable, apply organic insecticides. Alternatively, use pheromone traps to capture moths, and spray neem oil on the crops to fight the infestation.

Animals

Any healthy garden attracts animal pests. The common wildlife guests that would gladly consume your garden produce and plants are moles, rabbits, voles, birds and more. These animals tend to sneak into your yard, feed on your flowers and greenery leaves or just steal ripe fruits and vegetables with no remorse.

When an intruder comes around, damages your shrubs, you understand that maybe it’s time for animal control. The easiest way to protect your garden is by setting up a high fence or a barrier (e.g. mesh, net, wire, cover) that would restrict wildlife pest access.

Next, you can repel – essential oils, strong odors, and predator smells effectively keep animals away. You might also place bright balloons or the good old scarecrow in your garden, to scare off unwelcome guests. We urge you to avoid cruel practices that involve extermination. Alternatively, if your pest problem is out of control, try to include setting up traps that catch but not hurt animals, and simply relocate them.

How to keep pests away from your garden?

We have gathered a list of efficient methods to handle problematic insects and animals in your garden, without resorting to chemicals. All practices are effective for general protection of your crops, allowing you to grow produce without extensive worry about pests.

Gardening comes with many dos and don’ts, however, the best way to learn and improve your practices is through trial and error. Always keep track of what you planted in a journal. Such a measure would ensure you can follow the infestation process and act accordingly to further avoid it. It also allows you to analyze problematic cases and take precautions for next season.

Tidy and well-maintained garden

Highly maintained gardens rarely attract pests, so always make sure to regularly clean it and keep your gardening methods on point. Acting quickly is important when it comes to horticulture infestations.

Be prepared to respond to any plantation threat on time, and work towards the goal to be able to easily spot the signs of foreign organism invasion. Sustaining a tidy home garden is a no-no for most pests like insects, as it provides you with a sufficient overview on the plants and their growing process.

How to maintain a tidy garden? As a start, use your space smart and do not plant greens too close to each other. Stuffing plants not only restrains you from getting the full picture on a crop’s health but also suffocates the greenery. Plants need air circulation to thrive, so whenever you tightly pack them you are inviting pests, giving them a good hiding place and a heat shelter.

Repellents and Barriers

Repellents and barriers are quite an effective tool which helps you keep harmful animals and insects out of your garden. would give you a breath of fresh air when it comes to the health of your crops.

Barriers like covers and nets are such a good solution because they restrain the physical animal access to your plants. This farming method is widely considered as one of the best pest prevention practices, without the usage of chemicals. The most common examples of barriers are copper sheeting, screen coning, tar paper or foam rubber discs, basic plant overs, nets, sticky traps, etc.

Gardeners often include other plants into their anti-pest strategy. Some aromatic greens act as a deterrent and can be planted around the yard, to chase bugs away. Using them as a living barrier to banish insects works wonders. Plants like peppermint, spearmint, and pennyroyal naturally keep most of the destructive insects away. Additionally, classic crops like garlic, lavender, and savoury could cover up the scent of your main plants.

Good Watering Schedule

Implementing a good watering schedule is a great way of keeping your plants hydrated and less appealing to bugs that feed on stressed and wilted greenery. Avoid watering your garden plants after heavy rain because this is just a recipe for disaster. Instead, wait for the soil to dry out and watch closely for any signs of pest infestation.

Morning watering is exclusively beneficial for your garden’s health. It provides your crops with sufficient water supply to get through the day and freshes them up. As some insect pests prey on water-neglected plants, this is also a great way to keep them away.

Another advantage of morning watering is that the leaves would be able to dry off during the hot part of the daytime. If you leave your garden plants damp throughout the night, you are creating a perfect environment for pests like snails and slugs to thrive.

The most effective schedule is considered to include deep watering once or twice during the week. Such a practice is generally more adequate than daily watering that just wets the leaves and the soil surface. (Please consider your plant type and its water need, though!)

For information on our garden maintenance services please call 0845 604 1288 or visit Protech Garden Solutions.