The importance of protecting your garden from pests cannot be understated. Without treatment, they will destroy your garden and leave you with a barren plot. There are many different methods for keeping pests away, some more effective than others. This article will list the most popular and what they entail to make an informed decision on which is best for you and your garden!
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Add A Fence
A fence is a great way to keep pests away from your garden. The taller the wall, the better, as it provides more protection from any creatures that may want to creep into your yard. Some common examples are chicken wire, plastic netting, and wooden boards. When using a fence, make sure it is in good condition and inspect it often for holes, which can be used for pests to get in.
Use Netting
Netting is another popular way to protect your flowers. A common type of netting is bird netting, which can be purchased at many garden supply stores or hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot. This netting comes in rolls and resembles mesh fencing. You can cut it to fit any area of your garden that you do not want pests in. If cutting the material, be sure to leave some extra to have a border for attaching it securely to stakes or other structures.
Pest Repelling Plants
One of the most natural ways to protect your flowers from pests is using certain kinds of plants that repel insects. Plants like marigolds and lavender are not attractive to most problems but can still be beautiful additions to your garden! Other plants have properties that are harmful to pests. For example, garlic and chives effectively keep away slugs and snails. These are just a few examples of how you can use natural repellents in your garden!
Use Live Traps
Live traps might be your best option if you have problems with more minor pests like groundhogs, rabbits, or mice. These can be bought at most hardware stores and garden supply stores. They come in different shapes and sizes, but their principle is the same; put bait inside to lure the creature in, and they will not be able to escape. Be sure that you know how to release the animals without hurting them before setting up these traps! This is an essential step in ensuring they do not die after being caught in a trap for too long.
Use A Plant Cloche
A plant cloche is a cover that can be put on top of individual plants to protect them from tiny pests. It doesn’t provide any protection against more giant creatures like raccoons, but it will help if you are dealing with insects or mice. These are not very common, but some garden supply stores carry them. They are usually made out of plastic or wire mesh, but you could also use old fencing material as well! They can also be made relatively quickly, which is a good option for gardeners on a budget.
Purchase Insect Repellents
There are many repellents on the market today that you can purchase and use in your garden to protect your plants. Some common examples are insecticidal soaps, which act as contact poisons, meaning that the pests must touch the substance to be killed. These soaps are also harmful to beneficial insects like pollinators, so it is essential to keep this in mind! Another kind of repellent is Neem oil, which works similarly and kills insects on contact. There are many other types, so do some research and find one that best fits your needs!
Add Helpful Insects
Another way to naturally protect your flowers is to add insects that will help control pests. Many beneficial bugs out there can kill or eat other garden pests like aphids and parasitic wasps. The best way to get these helpful insects into your garden is by planting things that attract them. If you can, produce some of these on your property along with the flowers! You can purchase food that will attract them or look on the Internet for plants known to do this.
Use Peppers
Powdered peppers are an effective way to keep away slugs and snails from your garden. The powder is spicy enough to be harmful to slugs but still won’t bother you! This can be found at most hardware and garden supply stores and will last you a long time! If you have a large area that pests might infest, buying several sacks of powdered peppers can get pricey, so it is usually better for more extensive gardens to purchase pepper spray.
Use Soap Water
One of the most common and easiest ways to keep pests away from your flowers is with soap and water. By mixing a small amount of dish soap in a bucket of water, you can create a spray that will kill any pests it comes into contact with. This works exceptionally well on aphids, but use care when spraying plants with tender leaves! If the soap is too strong, it may harm the plant you are trying to protect.
Hire A Pest Controller
If all else fails, you can hire a pest controller to come and eradicate any pests for you. This is the most expensive option, but it will solve all your problems. Pest controllers use strong chemicals to kill the pests, and some even have trained dogs that can sniff out certain types like gophers and groundhogs! This is a very effective but expensive option, so it should be used as a last resort only if all other methods fail.
Conclusion
There are many different ways to protect your flowers from pests, and this article highlighted a few of them. Before you implement any pest control methods, make sure that you know what kind of damage they may do to the other plants in your garden! The best way to keep your flowers protected is by using several methods at once. This will give total protection from the many types of pests you may have.
