Preventing Common Garden Pests
What Can I Do to Prevent Garden Pests?
A customer recently wrote asking me how to prevent certain bugs that had infested her garden. I usually let Mother Nature take care of it over the winter, but this customer was so discouraged that she was going to tear out her whole garden for the season and try again next year. Her garden was so infested this year that insecticide wouldn’t have saved the produce. I couldn't let her give up!
I am offering some solutions to help with prevention. Many of these methods will help prevent common garden pests. Here are my suggestions:
Remove Weeds and Fallen Leaves
Clearing weeds and debris eliminates hiding places for a variety of pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. These pests often use overgrown areas and plant litter for shelter and breeding.
Wash Plants Regularly
Spraying plants with water not only dislodges stink bugs but also helps remove aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and even some caterpillars that feed on plant leaves. Washing can also disrupt pest eggs before they hatch.
Plant Natural Deterrents
Plants like marigolds, garlic, and buckwheat are known to repel more than just stink bugs. Marigolds, for example, help deter nematodes, aphids, whiteflies, and even mosquitoes. Garlic acts as a repellent for a wide range of pests, including caterpillars, beetles, and aphids.
Handpick Young Bugs
Handpicking is effective for stink bugs and other beetles, but can also be useful against other larger pests, such as caterpillars (like tomato hornworms), and leafhoppers, especially when the insects are still young or congregated in clusters.
Apply Insecticides
Insecticides that target beetles are often broad-spectrum, meaning they can also affect other pests like aphids, caterpillars, and leafhoppers. However, it's important to use insecticides carefully to avoid harming beneficial insects.
Use Biological Control
Predators and parasites that attack beetle eggs, like parasitic wasps, also target other garden pests such as caterpillars, whiteflies, and leafhoppers. Encouraging these beneficial insects supports a balanced ecosystem in your garden.
Harvest Early
Early harvesting is more about preventing damage from any bug, including tomato hornworms, fruit worms, and leaf-footed bugs, which feed on tomatoes.
By implementing these methods, you'll likely reduce the presence of several common garden pests while protecting your crops.