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One of the most common problems I try from gardeners is that they struggle with damaging insects . When you grow a garden that gets overtake by pests it can really be discouraging . It happens to all gardeners at one point or another , but when pests are a common problem you necessitate a root .
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How to Manage Garden Pests Naturally
In this episode , I ’m going to cover must - have tips for managing pests , how to attract beneficial insects , and best gardening practices that will keep your plants thrive without any pest issues .
Let ’s get into it !
Don’t Spray
You ’ll kill unspoiled and bad bugs . When you spray an insect powder it defeat all louse , not just trouble insects .
And according to the USDA less than 1 % of insect species are considered harmful . Insects prey on harmful pests , pollenate plant , decompose constitutive matter , and produce valuable product like honey .
So all in all , the legal age of dirt ball are good and we call for them in our garden .
But the trouble happens when the population of bad bugs is larger than the population of good bugs .
regrettably , if you regularly spray or vote down problem insect such as aphids , you ’ve been kill off the good bugs too and you need to build back up the universe of beneficials .
When my son was born in 2022 I quit spraying bugs in my garden because I did n’t have time . But then in the follow two gardening season I had fewer pest problems .
I do n’t consider it was a coincidence . I believe it was from building back up the population of good insects .
Learn to Identify Good Bugs
I sleep with this one can often be difficult because some bugs are tough to identify . For example , it ’s pretty easy to identify mature ladybird but have you ever get wind ladybug larvae ? They almost look like petite alligators . They ’re foresightful , blackened , and spiky looking with orangish or yellow spots .
And the larva stage is really the most beneficial . They continuously flow on aphids and other soft bodied insect until they ’re ready to pupate .
In fact , the larvae of many good insects is often the most beneficial leg . But it ’s often the stage many mass do n’t recognize .
So now rent ’s cover some vulgar good insects you require in your garden .
Beneficial Insects
Aphid predators
And now let ’s go over some of the harmful insect . I know there are more than what I ’ll listing but here are some of the most common ,
Luckily if you have any of the beneficial insects in your garden they will help keep down populations of these bad insects .
But one of the outlet is that many of these harmful insects overwinter in the soil and it ’s arduous to stop the uninterrupted life cycle .
You may have heard of gardeners buy good worm and let them loose in their garden . Which is in spades is not a bad estimation but in many cases the insects that you buy will leave your garden because they are n’t native .
So the effective thing you could do is naturally attract them into your garden which we ’ll discuss in just a little bit because it ’s one of my preferred topics .
But first I need to note good insects that may be deserving the investment , and they are beneficial nematode worm . you may apply them to your soil to drink down all of these overwintering bugs and to obliterate any other soil dwelling pests . There are even a few reputable stores online that you’re able to buy from .
So a really beneficial thing you’re able to do this season , especially if you ’ve had a really speculative plague of insects like grubs , wampum measuring worm , cutworms , flea beetles or any other pest that overwinters in territory is to bring good nematodes to your garden soil .
Since the nematodes experience in the soil it ’s a much just solution than purchase good dirt ball that can only pilot away .
But sometimes the best way to identify pest problems is to get help from other nurseryman . If you ’d like to join mymembership , it is an amazing community that can help .
We have over 200 members and I am always in there to answer each and every interrogative sentence , plus you ’ll get entree to monthly growing calendars for zona 9 , monthly garden tours and teachings , plus a resource subroutine library full of garden courses and guide . I ’d love for you to crack it out . set off a 14 - day free trial here !
How to Attract Beneficial Insects
One of the dependable thing you could do as a veg gardener is implant a variety show of flush and herb amongst your fruits and vegetable .
There are so many flower and herb that pull good insects that will then give on the bad bugs .
There is really not much scientific grounds on discourage bugs with other flora , but you may definitely attract beneficial dirt ball with various plants .
A rattling flower isphacelia ! It is wonderful for attracting bees which will help cross-pollinate and for attracting hoverflies which will feed on aphid and other trouble insects .
Another bloom I love to have around the garden is sweet alyssum . It is so easy to develop and lasts all year long in balmy climates . I planted my unfermented alyssum last spring and it come through all winter long and now as this spring approaches it ’s regrowing beautiful flowers .
It will appeal ladybugs , lacewings , and parasitic wasps , as well as other beneficials .
By but having more flowering plants throughout your garden , you ’ll pull in more beneficials .
you’re able to also go away any bolted crops in the flat coat such as radish , cilantro , lettuce , and broccoli which will all attract many beneficials .
Keep Plants Healthy
The next gratuity is to keep your plant goodish . emphasise out industrial plant pull bad hemipteron . If your plant are healthy and thriving there is a much low chance that you ’ll have any pest issues .
Here are some baksheesh for maintain your plants and garden level-headed .
Physically Remove Pests
My last bakshish for oversee pests naturally is to physically remove them . you may habituate a water hose and spray them off of the plants .
you could also apply a vacuum and suck them up . This method would be most beneficial for larger pest like squash vine bugs .
As we wrap up , remember that growing a pest free garden need time . Stop using insecticides , learn to distinguish insect , attract beneficials , and keep your garden goodly . In time , the pest trouble will decrease .
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