There is something magical about a garden; it’s a backyard oasis, a touch of nature at your fingertips, a source of physical activity, and a fantastic stress reducer. You can use your garden to save money by growing vegetables and herbs or use your garden to showcase your creative side with arrays of stunning color everywhere you turn.
People garden for a wide range of reasons, but there is one common denominator that can make gardening less fun and more of a chore – the garden pests that you can occur daily. These pests could be insects, plant disease, or even animals that steal into your garden to divulge themselves on the fruits of your labor; literally.
Instead of spending money on expensive and potentially harmful pesticides or spending the time and money for an exterminator; there are ways to get rid of these garden pests naturally. Want to know more? Then keep reading!
Why Use Natural Pesticides or Remedies to Remove Pests
Numerous studies have been conducted, but there isn’t one clear conclusion on exactly how chemically made pesticides can affect our health; and the health of our children and pets.
Pesticides are made up of chemicals that could damage the plant itself; allowing harmful agents to seep into the roots and cause stunted growth or other issues. The soil could become contaminated, infecting other plants and root systems that will stunt growth or damage the growing process.
These pesticides can also make a child or pet sick if they come in close contact with them. Stomach issues such as nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting are just some of the common symptoms shown when a person comes into contact with a pesticide. Severe reactions could include increased blood pressure, swelling or raising of the skin (internally and externally) and even fatality when ingested in larger amounts.
Use Mesh
Mesh or chicken wire caging is a vital gardening tool when putting around your plants can prevent larger pests, such as critters (rabbits, deer, mice, raccoons, etc.) from romping through your garden and disturbing the growing process for your veggies and fruits.
Install a layer of mesh or chicken wire around the entire garden bed but remember to leave a section that can be opened so that you can get into your garden for maintenance. These fences will prevent larger animals from jumping into the garden, trampling the plants and disturbing the soil/fertilizer/mulch put into place.
This can be purchased at your local home hardware store in bundles or rolls for easy installation.
Use a Citrus Spray
Citrus sprays made using essential oils, and water can have an unpleasant effect on insects in terms of smell and taste. Mix several drops of lime, lemon or grapefruit essential oils (or use natural juice from the fruit itself) into half a cup of water. Shake vigorously to mix and spray the bottom of the leaves on the plant being infested daily. Continue this until the insects are gone and then repeat the process once a week to refresh the smell.
Use citrus-based fruits as the more acidic this mixture is; the more effective it is. Sweet or sugar-based fruits will have the opposite effect and invite more insects into your garden.
Use Beer
Beer can have a negative effect on most insects but especially two in particular – slugs and snails. These pests get into your garden and destroy the leaves of the plants; allowing for the sun to burn the stems and the wind to destroy the internal system with changing temperatures. Leaves are the protectors of your plant, so you want them to stay put without being chewed.
Use an empty container or can (cleaned out thoroughly) and fill it up almost to the rim with beer. Place the lid of the container after punching numerous and various sized holes into it. Bury this container close to the plants of your garden and check it in the morning. Guaranteed you will have slugs, snails and even some insects caught in the trap. Replace the beer after a day or two, as it will lose its potency and become stale or flat.
This method will only work within a few feet of the buried container; so you might want to set up a few around the perimeter of your garden for maximum pest removal.
Conclusion
Just because garden pests of all varieties exist; there is no reason that they should ruin your gardening experience. Having natural methods on hand to deplete or remove these pests can save not only your garden but also your sanity. Use a combination of the described techniques to find the best one that suits your garden and supplies on hand. Consult with a local gardening club or the closest nursey to discuss what natural ways to get rid of the particular pests in your garden would be the best.
Ensure that you always have an ample water supply to replenish your garden after using a natural way to get rid of garden pests and to keep the water supply flowing cleanly; you want to use a garden hose that is guaranteed not to kink up on you. Some people chose to turn their garden hose or sprinkler on a timer, so their garden is watered when they aren’t around, and you do not want to run the risk of the water supply being cut off. Backyard Boss has extensive reviews on the best ones on the market today; so why not check it out!
