How to Rid Your Garden of Pests

Most insects and small animals have a purpose but if they are in your garden or backyard creating havoc and destroying plants or trees, you need to find a way to control them.Trenching
Creative Commons License photo credit: chidorian

Nature usually keeps insects in line with birds and other predators but sometimes certain creatures get out of control. Weather, over-population, and disease can cause unbalance in nature.

You also need to make sure there is not place for insects to hide and no diseases decaying matter for bugs to hide in. I you notice you have an insect problems and you plants are suffering, you can hand pick the insects of any plant and destroy them. You can also dislodge them with a strong spray of water.

But if you have an all out attack on your garden plants there is an insect spray you can make that will handle the problem quickly.

And yes, it sounds a bit strange.

Bug Juice Insect Spray

Collect a trowel of the damage-causing pests, and liquefy them in a blender with 1-cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) water. (I keep an old blender on hand to use for such purposes) Strain and dilute the mixture with 1-gallon (4 l) water, and pour the juice into a spray bottle.

Select plants that are infected with insects and spray. This mixture will not harm the plants. This is effective on nearly all pests, including beetles, squash and stink bugs, cutworms, army worms and even slugs

NOTE: Do not use bug juice on fleas, mosquitoes, or other blood-sucking insects that transmit disease.

Provide habitats for predators.

A single toad, frog, bird or bat consumes hundreds of insects a day. Toads and frogs are fun to watch in the garden areas and are harmless. Camping Trip Pt3: Frog Portrait
Creative Commons License photo credit: Stryker W@SP

I had a toad that lived in my garden near the cumber patch for years. He either hid under the cucumber leaves or used the clay terra cotta planter I placed in the garden in a shady area. I also had a saucer of water sitting nearby for him. I enjoyed watching him in my garden areas.

Bats and birds are also helpful in keeping insects under control so provide houses for them to encourage them to stay in you backyard. The bat houses I place down by my creek. I am not fond of bats but they love mosquitoes and I don’t. Bem-te-vi-pequeno  / Three-striped Flycatcher  ( Conopias trivirgatus )
Creative Commons License photo credit: Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes

Overall the best way to control insects is to notice the problems as soon as possible and take immediate action.

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4 responses to “How to Rid Your Garden of Pests”

  1. Elizabeth Barrette

    I’ve been pleased and surprised with how many predators my yard attracts compared to how many pests. Japanese beetles, being imports, are a nuisance but otherwise the balance is pretty good. My raspberry patch was a raving jungle of bugs while it fruited, but they hardly touched the berries — mostly they ate each other.
    .-= Elizabeth Barrette´s last blog ..My Tomatoes Are Growing =-.

  2. Great post, Denise! And a great recipe. I have always found that if I have an insect problem with a plant, something is amiss with the soil. Feed the soil, feed the plant and insects will not be a problem. I use insect problems as a symptom of other problems, in other words :)! Happy gardening to you, my friend!
    .-= Tessa at Blunders with shoots, blossoms ‘n roots´s last blog ..Greek Salad! Yummy! =-.

  3. Denise

    I agree with you Tessa, insects usually point to a soil or plant issue. I rarely have any insects. But in case of a problems this spray works.

    I do get those nasty japanese beetles, but okra plants Keep them at bay.

    happy gardening! Denise

  4. Denise

    Aren’t those japanese beetles a pain? I use okra plants to keep in in check. The beetles eat the leaves and die. And the okra flower is quite pretty too.

    Glad to hear the raspberries are doing well. They are one of my favorite fruits. Denise

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