Left unchecked pests can take over your garden, damaging plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Their effects can be unsightly, if not devastating, because they cause leaves to discolour, flowers to drop prematurely and plants to lose vigour and eventually die.
If left untreated pests will also multiply rapidly, spreading from garden to garden, neighbour to neighbour.
Luckily, there are plenty of options to control pests in your garden, many of them organic and environment friendly. Let’s look at some of the most common garden pests and their treatment including:
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Mites
- Snails and slugs
- Scale
- Lawn grubs
Controlling pests in the garden
A healthy, well maintained garden is less susceptible to pests and diseases.
However, occasionally an uninvited pest may decide to make your garden its home.
Treated quickly, you can prevent it pest from becoming a real problem.
Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure. Here are our tips to help prevent pests:
1. Keep plants healthy:
Healthy plants are more stronger and resilient, so are less likely to be targeted by pests than weak or damaged plants.
- Fertilise regularly
- Remove weeds.
- Keep your soil healthy
2. Remove weeds:
Weeds are havens for pests and some are also 'host' plants in the lifecycles of some flying insects.They also compete with your plants for nutrients and moisture.
Controlling weeds not only removes possible shelter for insects but may also interrupt their breeding habits.
Mulch to reduce the incidence of weeds and remove any weeds that do grow either by hand or with a targeted herbicide like RoundUp Natural Weedkiller.
3. Encourage good insects and birds to the garden by:
- Planting bee friendly plants like lavenders, daisies, marigolds, Queen Anne’s lace, cosmos and echiums.
- Make water available in the garden for birds, bees and insects. Make sure you have a shallow log or rock for insects to land on.
- Build an insect hotel out of twigs, sticks and straw. Follow the link for full instructions.
Common pests and how to control them
There is a very long list of common garden pests that can cause havoc in Australian gardens.
A small number are unique to sub tropical and tropical climates, a few will be found only in cooler regions but the majority will be widespread.
These are the most common:
Aphids, thrip, mites and other sucking insects including scale
Control:
- Use a high pressure blast of water from the hose to wash them off.
- Encourage beneficial insects and birds to the garden.
- Use a low toxicity spray.
How we can help:
- Defender Pyrethrum Insect Spray is safe to use on all plants, including edibles and should be reapplied as often as necessary.
Always read labels and the directions on how to use insecticides before applying them to your plants.
Snails and slugs
Control:
- Go outside at night with a torch, pick them off your plants and squash them individually.
- Apply snail pellets in areas where these pests have been seen or where damage is apparent.
How we can help:
- Defender™ Snail & Slug Pellets are effective and economical. Sprinkle them lightly and often. Keep them away from children and pets, especially dogs.
Lawn pests
Control:
- Try to find the culprit; if you are unsure, treat with a broad spectrum pest control for lawns.
How we can help:
- Scotts Lawn Builder™ + Grub and Insect Control will kill a wide range of lawn pests while also fertilising the lawn.
Protect the good guys
Using sprays and dusts to control harmful pests can also eradicate the good insects like bees and ladybirds that are helping you in your garden.
Always look for low-toxicity, systemic pesticides that do less harm because they specifically target pests eating plants or sucking the sap.
To find out more about beneficial insects, visit Good Bugs.
