2020 Guide to Lawn Pest Control
Nobody wants pests to wreak havoc to a perfectly set up garden. Especially when you put so much time and effort to make it as artistic as possible, you wouldn’t want anything to ruin its beauty. This is why we need to keep a close eye on pests that can take this loveliness away from us. Here are some of the most common garden pests you need to know about:
Aphids
These pests are tiny and pear-shaped creatures that have long antennae and two tubes that protrude away from the abdomen. Aphids are common in fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals. It sucks the sap of the plants, leaving it to distort. The honeydew secreted from the leaves will support mold growth, leading to a variety of plant viral diseases.
To get rid of aphids, check the plants regularly and look for any sign of infestation. If you see plants with small, white insects, spray the infected areas with a strong gush of water. This will detach the insects from the stems and leaves of your plants. If there are any left, you can take them off manually. Just be sure to wear your gloves. There are people who develop allergic reactions to some lawn pests.
Another way to get rid of Aphids is by encouraging strong predators of pests such as midges, lady beetles, and lace wigs. These are beneficial insects that will help you maintain a great garden. With their help, you won’t have to use harmful pesticides to treat your lawn.
For severe infestations, apply horticultural oil or neem oil. You can also use hot pepper or garlic repellent sprays. These DIY tips will help you lessen the population of aphids. In addition, it helps repel other forms of pest infestation.
Cabbage Maggot
The cabbage maggot is one of the worst pests that can infest a garden. These are common to family crops such as cabbages. The cabbage maggot digs tunnels through the roots of plants, killing it instantly. If not, it creates a passageway for a variety of disease organisms.
If you want to get rid of cabbage maggots, here are some tips to consider:
The first one is would apply floating row covers. Make sure to install it before infestation. If not, the pests will only grow healthily inside the row cover. Another method you can use is to set out transplants through tar paper squares. In the way, you can limit the infestation of cabbage maggots.
Furthermore, experts recommend applying parasitic nematodes around the roots so you can control the population of cabbage maggots naturally. Another way you can do so is to mound wood ashes or pepper dust around its stems to repel any maggots from infesting your crop.
Caterpillar
We all know that these grubs turn into beautiful butterflies in the future. However, as a larva, it could bring peril to our plants. Caterpillars are soft and segmented worms with a hard head capsule. It has six legs on the front and fleshy false legs on its rear segments. This can be found in fruits, vegetables, shade trees, and ornamentals.
To get rid of caterpillars, encourage native predators of the insect. In this way, you can prevent caterpillar infestations naturally and humanely. As much as we love butterflies, we cannot risk the health of our plants by cultivating its larva. So, it’s always best to repel them rather than exterminate them. One way to do so is by installing floating row covers. This way, you can drive away from the caterpillars that can damage your lawn plants.
Cutworms
This is one of the most dangerous and most damaging garden pests of all time. These are fat grubs that are gray or black in color. Just like the Caterpillar, cutworms are segmented but are smaller in size.
They are commonly found on early vegetable and flower seedlings throughout North America. These creatures can chew through stems at ground level. They can easily devour small plants, especially from May to June.
To get rid of these pests, you can invest in cutworm collars on plants. If you assess that cutworms have infested your garden, delay planting for the safety of your harvest. When you wet the ground, you will see cutworms curled on the surface of the soil. You can hand-pick these and dispose of them immediately.
Colorado Potato Beetle
These features are often found on potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant, and petunias. The adult stage of this pest is seen as yellow to orange beetles with ten strips on their wing covers. These creatures can defoliate plants, reducing harvest yields and killing the young plants. To get rid of them here are some tips:
One way to get rid of these beetles is by installing floating covers as soon as you plant your seedlings. Not only will this prevent infestations from the Colorado Potato Beetle but other pests as well. Another way to get rid of these creatures is by using deep straw mulches. This will help the plants absorb the nutrients they need. Plus, this will ward off any impending pest infestations.
Just like any other pest, you can easily control their population by attracting native predators that feed on Colorado potato beetles. This way, you can reduce the hassle of using complicated methods for pest control.
Mexican Bean Beetle
The adults are oval in shape and are yellow to brown in color. These grow up to ¼ inch with 16 black spots on their wing covers. Its larvae are fat, yellow grubs with long spines. They are usually found on cowpeas, snap beans, lima beans, and soybeans.
The Mexican Bean Beetlechew on the leaves from beneath, leaving it with a lacy appearance. This is why we need to ensure they do not get in contact with our plants. One way we can prevent their infestation is by installing row covers. Plant the beans early to ensure that no pest has infested yet. Spray your surroundings with neem oil to avoid giving any pest access to your plants.
Flea Beetle
This beetle got its name because it jumps like a flea when it is disturbed. It is more common in North America than any other part of the U.S. The adult flea beetles can chew numerous, round holes into leaves. Did you know that this is the most damaging kind of damage to plants? This is why experts recommend preventing its infestation before they grow in huge numbers. One way to do so is by installing floating row covers. Make sure to apply it before the infestation. Another way to repel Flea beetles is to spray the plans with garlic spray or kaolin clay. Regularly applying this treatment will drive the flea beetles away from your farm or garden.
Tarnished Plant Bug
Entomologists describe this insect as a fast-moving and mottled bug with forewings with black-tipped yellow triangles. Its color ranges from green to brown. Tarnished Plant Bugs would are commonly found on many flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Both the adults and nymphs suck the plant juices, causing the leaves to distort, wilt, and die.
To control these bugs, clean your garden regularly and keep it weed-free especially in the spring. The weeds serve as their hiding spot from the sun. It serves as their housing to make it easier for them to infest the leaves of our plants.
Japanese Beetles
The adult Japanese beetles our metallic blue-green in color with bronze wing covers. The larva of this beetle is characterized as fat, white grubs with brown heads. They are commonly found on vegetables, flowers, and small fruits.
These features are commonly known for completely skeletonizing leaves and stems. They can ruthlessly defoliate plants while their larvae feed on the roots. This is one of the most feared pest infestations in the United States because of the extensive damage it causes.
To get rid of Japanese beetles, regularly check the plants early in the morning to manually pick Japanese beetles away. In extreme numbers, you can use insecticidal soap to control the population. If not, you can set up traps at least 30 feet away from your garden. This way, you can divert their attention from your plants.
Scales
The adult female scales are characterized as hard or soft bumps on the stems and leaves of plants. The Males are flying insects while their larvae are tiny and crawling insects with thread-like mouthparts. It these pests are common on many fruits especially on indoor plants and ornamental shrubs. According to experts, they can also infest trees in the United States. If the infestation is untreated, it causes the plants to turn yellow. Eventually, the leaves will start to drop in the plant will die.
The most effective way to get rid of scales is to encourage native predators. This way, you won’t have to use harmful insecticides to eliminate this threat. If your plant is already infested, prune out the infected parts to avoid it from spreading. To plant parts with a tolerable number of scales. You can just scrub them gently using a soft brush and soapy water. Rinse well after.
These are only a few of the most dangerous pests. This is a reason why you need to be mindful of the things you do to prevent them. Without persistence and determination, your garden will slowly wither and die. Your Prior efforts will be all for nothing and you’ll be risking yourself to a variety of illnesses. With the help of this DIY tricks, you can prevent forms of infestation. But you need to act quickly or else you’ll lose the Integrity of your garden for good. Start now and maximize your profit from a bountiful garden.
Authored By Darlin Aviles
