Are insects and pests invading your garden? You have put time, energy, and money into your garden space, so you want to be sure that the pest control you use not only takes care of bugs but is also healthy for you and your garden.
Many people reach for chemicals to deal with garden insects, and though they may be effective, they can be harmful to other areas of your garden and dangerous to pets. That’s why it is important to understand your garden’s ecosystem so you can create a growing space that is friendly to vegetables and flowers while deterring plant insects through effective and eco-friendly garden pests control.
There are several ways you can control pests in your garden without the use of harsh chemicals. Making adjustments to soil quality, understanding plant growing conditions, and knowing which pests help control bugs is key to growing a stunning garden.
There are many solutions you can do that require no additional investment in your garden at all but can have money-saving results.
In this article, we will look at how to get rid of bugs on plants naturally so you can enjoy a healthy and lush garden without having to worry about garden pests.
Encourage healthy soil
Your garden soil is the first step in creating a productive growing environment for your garden. Bugs in garden soil can quickly turn your garden into a patch of dead and dying plants. Using fresh, healthy soil will prevent bugs from using your garden as a home. Remove any decaying material at the beginning of each garden season to deter bugs such as spider mites, fungus gnats, and mealybugs.
Choose resistant plant varieties
If you are wondering how to stop insects from eating plant leaves, the solution may be changing the types of plants in your garden. Every region has unique bug species that feed on certain plants and flowers. You can combat this by growing plants that are pest-resistant or adding plants that deter bugs into your garden. Some of the best bug resistant plants include:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Radishes
- Leeks
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Root vegetables
Garden pests can be stopped before they begin to feast on your plants with some careful planning including choosing plants that discourage insects.
Plant in the right location
Each plant requires specific conditions to encourage healthy growth. Some plants enjoy direct sunlight, while others prefer more shaded areas. Some plants are drought tolerant, while others like regular watering. Knowing your plants’ preferred growing conditions is one of the best forms of garden pests control.
Use mulch
Mulch is more than just a material that can enhance the look of your garden, it is also a key component in preventing insects in the garden. Mulch prevents insects, bugs, and small creatures from using your garden as a new home. Mulch also helps maintain soil quality, preventing soil from becoming too wet or too dry, allowing you to maintain ideal growing conditions and prevent bugs from feasting on your garden.
Fences
We all love cute bunnies and other garden creatures, but this can lead to the question, of how to protect vegetable gardens from animals. Though finding a rabbit or squirrel in the garden may seem innocent enough, they can quickly destroy all your hard work, eating your fruits and vegetables and digging up plants. Fences are one of the best ways to protect a garden from animals. Your landscaping expert can help you find the right style fence to suit your garden with many options to choose from including wood, wire, stone, or natural fencing.
Rotate crops
You have probably heard of farmers rotating their crops to keep the soil healthy and improve growing yields. The same goes for your garden. Rotating crops helps increase the level of nutrients in the soil as well as encourage healthy growth.
Use floating row covers
Improve growing and soil conditions, while deterring pests with floating row covers. The lightweight fabric still allows water and light to reach your plants without having to worry about pesky pests.
Keep some bait around
That’s right! Encourage pests to visit your garden that will act as natural pest control for those you don’t want around. Ladybugs, praying mantis, spiders and beetles are nature’s pest control and can make quick work of unwanted pests, so make sure to plant a few plants that will encourage friendly visitors. This goes for birds and other wildlife too. There are lots of visitors to your garden who see pests such as snails, grubs, and bugs as a snack. So make sure to keep your garden inviting to creatures who will help take the work out of pest control.
Handling an outbreak
If you do have an outbreak of bugs, don’t be discouraged. There are lots of factors such as weather, soil conditions, and climate that can impact the prevalence of garden pests. Get a handle on an outbreak quickly by identifying the pest, finding the right removal solution, and creating a garden environment that discourages future outbreaks. This will keep your garden looking healthy and pest-free all growing season.
Growing seasons continue to change thanks to environmental factors and new invasive species making their way into local gardens. That’s why it’s important to talk to your trusted landscaping advisor who can help you design and plant a garden that looks great and deters pests.
The team at JHC Landscaping Services has the experience and knowledge you need to create a garden that fits not only the soil conditions but deters bugs and pests common to your growing zone. We can help you choose the right plants and create a layout that deters pests with the right fencing and garden features.
So whether you are taking on your first pest infestation or the helpful hints we have shared still aren’t doing the trick, JHC Landscaping Services is here to ensure your garden looks its best and stays pest-free.