How To Eliminate The 15 Most Destructive Garden Pests

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Farming is fulfilling, and watching something grow is always a treat. Yet, your crops are often hampered by bugs that threaten to derail your progress. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning your tillage journey, understanding these common pests and the most efficient methods to control them will help you safeguard your precious herbs and ensure a thriving nursery all season long.

Aphids

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These tiny, pear-shaped pests may seem harmless individually, but en masse, they can wreak havoc on your plants by sucking sap and spreading disease. Combat them by introducing natural predators like ladybugs or using a homemade insecticidal soap spray.

Slugs and Snails

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Under the cover of darkness, these slimy invaders nibble away at your tender greens, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Deter them with barriers like copper tape or eggshells or lure them to their demise with beer traps.

Whiteflies

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With their white wings and elusive nature, whiteflies often go unnoticed until it’s too late. Blast them off your vegetation with a strong stream of water or apply insecticidal soap to suffocate them. Neem oil can also disrupt their life cycle.

Japanese Beetles

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These metallic-hued marauders descend upon your plot like an unwanted houseguest, devouring leaves and flowers with reckless abandon. Handpick them off your saplings or use pheromone traps to lure them away.

Caterpillars

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From cute to destructive, caterpillars can quickly strip your greenery bare if left unchecked. Encourage beneficial insects like parasitic wasps or use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control their population.

Thrips

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These slender pests may be small, but they can cause significant problems by feeding on plant tissue and spreading diseases. Introduce predatory vermins like lacewings or smear neem oil to keep their numbers in check.

Spider Mites

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Too tiny to see without a magnifying glass, spider mites can slurp the life out of your vegetables, leaving behind webs as evidence of their presence. To deter them, blast them away with water and keep the humidity high.

Earwigs

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With their pincer-like appendages, earwigs can quickly devour your seedlings and flowers overnight. Trap them with a rolled-up newspaper or cardboard tubes filled with straw and dispose of them in the morning.

Scale Insects

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These pesky pests may resemble minuscule shields or bumps on your plant’s stems and leaves, but don’t be fooled by their small size—they can weaken and even kill your plants in the long run. Remove them by hand or smear horticultural oil to smother them.

Fungus Gnats

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Fungus gnats hover around your potted herbs. They lay their eggs in moist soil, producing larvae that feed on plant roots. Let the soil dry out between waterings, and use yellow sticky snags to catch adult gnats.

Leaf Miners

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These minute larvae tunnel through leaves, leaving behind unsightly trails and damaging your vegetation’s foliage. To control their population, prune and destroy affected fronds or introduce parasitic wasps.

Mealybugs

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Resembling miniature balls of cotton, mealybugs may seem innocuous, but they can weaken your greenery by sucking sap and transmitting diseases. Remove them with a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol or apply insecticidal soap directly to affected areas.

Wireworms

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Hiding beneath the soil’s surface, wireworms feast on your seedlings’ roots, causing stunted growth and wilting. Rotate crops regularly to disrupt their life cycle or use beneficial nematodes to target them specifically.

Cutworms

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As their name suggests, cutworms can cut down your young saplings overnight, leaving you with only stubs. Protect seedlings with cardboard or aluminum foil collars, and handpick cutworms from the soil surface.

Flea Beetles

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With a penchant for jumping and a voracious appetite for foliage, flea beetles can quickly turn your garden into a battleground. Protect vulnerable flowers with row covers and introduce predatory bugs like ground beetles to feast on their eggs and larvae.

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