Preventing Vegetable Garden Pests

Written by Anza Goodbar (last updated February 17, 2012)

Growing a garden can be fun and the harvest well worth the effort; however, if you don't take time to prevent insects and pests from invading the area, your work could all be devoured by unseen pests. Take as many preventative measures as possible to reduce the amount of work during the growing season to keep pests out of the garden.

One of the easiest ways to keep pests to a minimum is to reduce the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer used in the garden. Nitrogen helps promote soft leafy growth in plants. This type of growth is particularly appetizing to garden pests.

Create physical barriers to pests. Consider using cages for fruits to keep out small animals or birds. A net over the cage will provide a further deterrent and protect the plants from being devoured. This is especially helpful for fruit trees. If the plants can be elevated, this can also be a great deterrent from wildlife.

Do research. Know what types of pests are apt to devour your crops and create a defense specifically for them. Make your plan specific for the types of pests you are aiming to eliminate. Act quickly at the first sign of a problem. Putting off action can cause the problem to get out of hand.

Keep your garden clean. Weed it regularly. Remove any refuse from pruning or grooming plants. Any area that allows moisture to grow can cause disease or pest infestations. Practice good watering methods. Prevent the plants from becoming stressed which may make them more vulnerable to pests.

Encourage natural predators like ladybirds and lacewings. They will naturally devour a colony of aphids and prevent them from taking over a garden.

Rabbits can be difficult to keep out of a garden, there are repellents on the market that will assist with this, however, they are not always effective depending on the size of the rabbit population. Fencing made of chicken wire can help, but it should be at least three feet high and buried at least a foot to prevent jumping over or tunneling under. Sonic devices, while pricey, can be the best defense.

As a last resort, chemicals can be sprayed on the plants to get rid of unwanted pests. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instruction to the letter. Do not spray near a pond or ground water. Only spray on a calm day with little to no wind to control the direction of the spraying.

Author Bio

Anza Goodbar

Anza is a single mother of four who makes her home in Colorado. She enjoys writing, hiking and is an avid football and hockey fan. She is the owner of a virtual business services company; writing is just one of the many services her company offers. ...

MORE FROM ANZA

Simple Home Remedies for Dry Skin

Good skin care doesn't have to be expensive. Ingredients from the kitchen cupboards can provide a myriad of solutions for ...

Discover More

When to Call the Dermatologist

Dermatology deals with issues affecting the skin like severe acne, skin cancer and reoccurring rashes. Seeking a ...

Discover More

Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas are a tasty Mexican dish, but they can often be filled with unwanted fats and carbs. This recipe is a ...

Discover More

The End of the Road for Mice! Quickly eliminate pesky mice and small rodents with this handy six-pack of traps. Easy to bait, set, use, and release. Unique design catches rodents from the front, sides, and back. Simple, safe, sanitary, and reusable for years. Check out Snap-E Mouse Traps today!

More Pest Tips

Managing Lawn Pests

If you are really interested in having a beautiful and healthy lawn it only stands to reason you will want to reduce as ...

Discover More

Preventing Fruit Garden Pests

If you are thinking of planting and growing a fruit garden, then preventing fruit garden pests is going to be near the ...

Discover More

Identifying Common Lawn Pests

The key to having a healthy lawn are to identify pests early and take action. No lawn is resistant to insects; ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 2 + 8?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)