Over two million American households have discovered pests in their homes, many of which flock to their backyards.
Backyard pests can destroy your veggie patch and even put your health at risk if you’re exposed. Although there are thousands of species, there are three common ones that you should be looking out for. Maybe that’s why you’re here; you want to learn about the most popular posts and see how you can eliminate them.
Sounds like you? No worries; we’ve got you! Here are three popular garden pests and how to avoid them.
1. Aphids
One of the most common garden pests is aphids. These pesky critters are soft-bodied insects that suck fluids from plant leaves, leaving them dehydrated and browned. Aphids are attracted to younger saplings and often show up in spring.
An effective method of garden pest control is prioritizing your preventative measures. For instance, prune off damaged foliage and only use slow-release fertilizers so your yard doesn’t instantly spring up new leaves that attract aphids. Or, if that doesn’t work, lay down yellow sticky traps to control the pest population in your yard.
2. Flea Beetles
Be on the lookout for garden pests beetles like the flea beetle. You’ll notice these tiny insects leave giant holes in veggie leaves, especially radishes and cabbages. You should also carefully monitor your eggplant, pepper, and tomato plants for good measure.
Luckily, there are multiple methods of doing this. Make sure there are no food sources present in spring and, again, lay down sticky traps because these beetles are impossible to catch by hand. You should also invest in row covers whenever you notice any signs of this garden pest.
3. Hornworms
Hornworms are another example of unwanted visitors in your yard. If you’re stumped on garden pest identification, know these look like green caterpillars with horn-like tails. These pests love feasting on the foilage on tomato and potato plants, especially around summer.
The most effective pest control plan is inspecting the plants for eggs and any cocooned hornworms. Although it’s tempting to remove them yourself, it’s wise to leave them for wasps to feed on instead. Also, prioritize creating a biodiverse yard to welcome other insects that kill hornworms, such as lady beetles and lacewings.
Further, homeowners should look out for cabbage white caterpillars. Aside from cabbages, these critters love swedes, turnips, and cauliflower. You’ll notice that they look like tiny white butterflies with two dots on their wings, so be on the lookout.
If you notice any eggs, remove them from plants yourselves and protect your plants with row covers to prevent further damage.
Avoid These Garden Pests Today
Hopefully, you’re now aware of the most common garden pests and know how to eliminate them for good.
There are multiple common pests, but homeowners should be mindful of aphids and flea beetles. You should also look out for hornworms because, if left unattended, they will wreak havoc on your yard in no time. Good luck!
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