Garden Pests

Gardening would be a lot simpler without interference from garden pests. Most garden pests are small, but they certainly are a big hassle. The most common garden pests are insects, of course and it is a curious thing that these insects tend to thrive in conditions that are not quite right for flowers. Most garden pests do not actually live on the plants themselves, they live in rotting rubbish nearby or in saturated soil and go to the plant to feed. Some insects live in the roots if the earth is too wet.

So, one of the first things to do is to attempt to reduce the number of harmful insects in your garden. You can go a long way down this route by clearing away any old rotting rubbish and rotten wood. Make certain that your soil is well drained and keep cats out of your garden by squirting them with a water pistol until they get the idea. Cats frighten birds and many birds feed on insects.

You should also support insects and other animals that feed on garden pests. Ants can be a nuisance, but they do eat a lot of insects. Ladybirds do too and so do spiders. Larger animals such as frogs, toads and lizards eat loads of insects, so a small open-ended garden pond could be used to breed frogs and toads. Lizards will come on their own, if the conditions are perfect.

It is worth taking active steps to encourage the right kind of garden animals. Never use powerful insecticides on your garden as you will destroy all the insects that are on your side too and the spray may kill the earthworms that are helping to aerate and dry out your soil.

A small pond will encourage birds, frogs and toads, but frogs and toads also like a nice rock to take refuge under during the day. Position a couple of rocks the size of a loaf of bread around your garden in the shade of trees or bushes. Set up a bird table. Birds that feed on bread and nuts do not usually eat insects, but some do. However, the sight of other birds in your garden may encourage insectivores to come in and have a look.

There are basically two types of garden pests: the ones that actually eat the plant and the ones that extract the sap out of it. Caterpillars can be picked off and disposed of or you could spray the leaves that are being eaten with a poison for the caterpillars to eat. Many of the sap-suckers can be seen with no trouble, others cannot. A solution of washing-up liquid and water such as you use to wash dishes will kill the majority of of these including greenfly (aphids).

Slugs and snails do a lot of damage, but some birds including chickens and thrushes find them a delicacy. Chickens can be helpful partners in a garden, but they can be destructive too with all their scratching. If not, you can reduce the population of slugs and snails by killing their eggs.

They tend to lay their eggs in rotting leaves or rotting compost, but not in compost heaps which are normally too hot for them, so a good clean up will eliminate a lot of the next generation.

You can kill the adults by placing a few low containers of beer near your plants. The slugs will drink the beer and drown. It is extremely efficient. Slug pellets should kill the t-totallers off. Taking these measures will greatly reduce the number of garden pests attacking your plants.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece writes on quite a few subjects, but is at present concerned with exterior wall lighting. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Outdoor Wall Lamps.