Tips & Tricks For Garden Pest Prevention

There is nothing worse than heading into the garden and finding that the tomatoes you have been looking forward to – only to find an insect or another pest have taken a nibble before you. 

Getting rid of pests isn’t something that everyone likes to do, though, because it can feel cruel. However, there are many different ways that you can get rid of pests, some chemical, some preventative and some that are non-harmful. 

Here are some tips and tricks for getting rid of common garden pests. 

Soil 

When plants are growing in soil that isn’t as healthy as it could be, they won’t have the strong immune system and general strength to survive a bug attack. Make sure that you feed the soil so that it offers all the nutrients to the plant – and they can grow strong and healthy. 

Look at natural fertilisers like seaweed and fish to help promote good soil microbes. 

Beneficial Bugs

One of the best things about nature is that almost everything has a natural predator. For green flies, ladybirds will arrive. If you happen to have a lot of one pest, look up the natural predator and see if you can add this to the garden. You can buy many types of larvae and insects online and introduce them. 

Pest Removal 

There are some infestations that are easier dealt with by a professional – like mice and rats. There are also some insects that take significant removal efforts. Effective strategies for preventative grub control in gardens vary, but typically it is best to get the soil inspected and come up with a plan. 

Crop Rotation 

If the crops you plant are always in the same place, you will always have the same pests in the same place. Crop rotation allows the soil to take a breather and for you to feed the soil. 

Try to use a two-year schedule, where you pull up and replant things in a different place. This is very effective for plants that seem to get infected every year. 

Crop rotation is one of the most tricky things to do, but it often has the biggest payoff. 

Interplanting 

Rather than planting a whole patch of a single flower or vegetable, start putting different plants, herbs and veggies in between. Take a look at some of the best pest-repelling flowers, and tuck them between the ones you want to protect. 

It might not be 100% effective, but it often is enough to put off many of the most irritating pests! 

Act Fast

The moment you see a creepy crawly or a chewed leaf, it is time to take action. The faster you take action, the better your chances of stopping an infestation quickly. It doesn’t take long to be overrun by little critters who want to chomp on your freshly grown cucumbers or beautiful roses. 

Perhaps the size of your garden is something that you are contending with too! Here are some tips to help: How to Make a Glorious Garden with a Yard of Any Size.