Solutions for Keeping Pests Out of Your Garden

Having to deal with garden bugs that do not benefit your plants can be challenging. Here are some tips and solutions for handling any type of pest that is lurking among your plants, from aphids to earwigs.

Aphids are tiny insects that are difficult to spot with the naked eye. Aphids can feed on all parts of the plant and cause significant damage if your garden is left untreated. If you do not want to use harsh pesticides or chemicals to tackle your aphid problem, then a good natural solution is purchasing ladybugs to dispense.

Ladybugs are a natural predator of aphids and can take care of the problem quickly, with the added effect of a beautiful ladybug population in your garden. For another natural approach, try sprinkling flour onto the plants, which will cause the aphids to become constipated.

Cockroaches are one of the most invasive and resilient species of insect. They are known for residing in dark almost any type of environment. For instance, cockroaches that are more common in the garden can burrow in moist soil, like the German Cockroach, which favors a more wet habitat.

Cockroaches will and can consume almost anything, making it difficult to cut them off from their food source once they inhabit an area such as a home or garden. Keep an eye out for water sources that could potentially attract the cockroaches as well, and do regular checks of areas such as bathrooms and laundry rooms.

Although many types of worms can be beneficial for your garden soil, such as earthworms, other species are known for causing harm. For instance, cutworms attack and feed by eating away at the base of your plants. An easy solution for cutworm prevention is to create barriers to wrap around plant stems that cutworms cannot penetrate.

You can also use compost-friendly ingredients that will help enrich your soil, like coffee grounds or eggshells. Another option is diatomaceous earth, a natural powder that is ground up and sharp enough to penetrate intruders like worms and other insects.

Make sure to take every measure possible to protect the stems of your plants, as this is where the cutworms are most likely to obtain their food source.

The spider mite is one of the most notorious plant destroyers in North America. Much like aphids, the spider mite is incredibly small and difficult to spot. They often reside in large numbers and can even create a weblike texture where they colonize. They favor common garden staples such as strawberries, melons, and tomatoes.

Some methods to control spider mite infestations include spraying them with insecticide that is food grade, meaning the most safe, organic option available, as well as cutting off parts of your plants that have been damaged by the mites. You can also deploy natural predators like ladybugs to help keep the problem under control.

Earwigs or pincher bugs, can be helpful in small populations, but harmful if their growth becomes unsustainable. They are omnivorous, means they consume both animal and plant matter, so they can eat other pests like aphids.

Once their population grows, however, earwigs quickly can move on from trimming parts of dead plants to eating existing living plants. To prevent earwigs from further infesting your garden, try putting a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the leaves.

Additionally, you can make many types of traps for earwigs with common household supplies. You can also utilize diatomaceous earth to kill them before they can get to the plant life that you are trying to protect.

Although sometimes invasive species in your garden can be overwhelming, it does not have to be a difficult process to rid your beautiful plants of damaging pests. With these solutions, you are guaranteed to keep your garden looking beautiful and free of harmful bugs, no matter the reason or season.