Vegetable Gardening Pest Control – How to Deal with Pests

The fresh vegetables from your garden are not just a tasty treat for you, they’re also a favorite of various animals and pests, including insects, rabbits, mice and deer. Unfortunately, many of them won’t stop until the entire plant is gone, roots and all. In this case, not only have they destroyed your harvest, but they’ve also rendered the plant incapable of producing in the future.

Pest control is usually a constant battle, that’s why it’s called pest control, and not pest elimination. There are several control methods, that if used in concert with each other, can be quite helpful.

Pest control should be a major consideration even before your plants begin to grow. Plant selection, soil preparation, and proper watering can aid you in controlling pests. Keeping your soil on the acidic side (pH 6.5) is a good idea. If your plants are given the proper nutrients, they will grow stronger and fight off pests more effectively.

Advancements in science have led to development of pest resistant seeds that are designed to help in this fight as well. If you’re purchasing young plants, be sure to choose the healthiest ones available.

Inspect your plants regularly for signs of insects and pests. Try not to resort to chemical sprays every time you discover an insect. There are various forms of biological control that will help you avoid the use of chemicals. Some of these organisms will devour harmful insects, and some are intended to treat the soil. This type of control method requires a good bit of research.

There are various ‘assassin’ bugs you can introduce that will eat caterpillars, Japanese beetles, and aphids among others. An example of this is stink bugs, which will eat potato beetles and caterpillars. Ladybugs will also feed on certain pests.

Try to water in the morning. This will help prevent fungus. The cool night air combined with water on the leaves will promote certain unwanted growths. Allow the plants time to dry completely before the temperatures fall in the evening. A healthy plant will be able to resist insects much better.

Mixing different types of plants together will help control the population of certain pests. Different plants are prone to different types of infestation. This method will help prevent mass gatherings of the same type of pest. Smaller infestations will be easier to control and increase your chances of saving the plants.

Any plant or part of a plant that has been infested should immediately be removed in order to prevent spreading. Infestations are often spread by contact. If it becomes apparent that the infestation is taking over an entire plant, it may become necessary to sacrifice it in order to save the rest.

Larger animals, such as rabbits and deer, can be deterred by placing a narrow mesh fence around your vegetables.

If the above methods prove unsuccessful, there are a number of commercial insecticides available that you can try. Advances in science and chemistry have improved these products significantly over the past 50 years. Today, many of these products are safe for humans and the environment. Your vegetables will be safe to eat as well.