Tips to Control Garden Pest
The fall months are quickly approaching and now is the right time to put a plan in place so that when the fall months arrive you will be prepared for fall bugs that can become a nuisance if control measures are not taken. With the passing of spring and summer there is the belief that garden insect pests will not be as active but what’s interesting is many of these garden pests are still active, why is the reason for this?
Why is Garden Pests Active during the Fall Months
The reason why garden insect pests are active right before the fall months is because vegetables are at their peak, because the colder months are ahead insects need extra food to carry them through the winter season. The good news is with the proper plan and taking action you can save your garden from the destruction of these garden pests.
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6 Strategies to Control Fall Pests
1. Weed Control
Besides making a garden unattractive, weeds will compete with garden plants for water, sunlight, and nutrients, but weeds are also harbourage for insect pests and parasites and because of this ensure that your garden is clear of weeds. Weed removal can be pretty taxing on your body, I hate weeding also but it’s a must to keep my garden growing beautiful, and healthy. A good plan of action is to put a plan (schedule) in place that will make those weeding jobs less stressful.
Avoid tackling weeds during the day hours when it gets really hot, if you can carry out your weeding chores during the morning or evening times will be much better, also the use of a garden kneeler and other garden tools will make your weeding job easier.
2. Till the Soil
Tilling the soil will encourage these insects to come to the top of the soil surface, the goal of soil tilling is to expose garden insect pests to their predators that use them as a food source. Research has revealed that “ tilling the soil during the fall months will discourage insects from overwintering in your garden.
3. Add or Refresh Mulch
Mulch serves many benefits some of which include weed control, beautification, retaining moisture, adding nutrients to the soil through decomposition, acting as insulation for the plant roots during the winter months, and regulating soil temperatures. Some examples of mulches are bark, wood chip, grass clippings, shredded leaves, straw, and pine needles. “The sent of Cypress and Cedar mulch has been known to repel garden insects pests”. Other sources of mulch are newspaper, cardboard, inorganic mulches includes rock, pebbles, gravel, stones, plastic landscape fabric, crushed seashells, and rubber mulch.
4. The Use of Floating Row Cover
Covering your garden plants with a floating row cover is a great way to bring insect control, floating row cover will keep insects out, base on the type of row cover you choose will allow varying degrees of water and the sunlight through. Row cover will also provide a level of protection from frost and the cold.
5. Choose Resistant Varieties
A great way to avoid garden insect pests is to plant resistant varieties, for information on plants that are resistant check seed catalogs.
6. Inspect Plants Before Bringing Home
There are so many ways insect pests enter our gardens, one popular way garden insect pest has access to many gardens is plants that are infected and installed without being inspected. garden pests can be found in nurseries and garden centers so before making a purchase do a thorough inspection of both the top and the undersides of leaves and do a general search of plants. You may be surprised by what you find, also be careful of plants that are discounted or are being sold dirt cheap. Sometimes these plants are healthy and then there are times plants just might be sickly along with being the harbourage of insect pests.
Examples of Fall Insect Pests
- Cut Worms
- Corn Earworms
- Aphids
- Snails and Slugs
- Cucumber Beetles
- Colorado Potato Bettles
- Stink Bugs
- Cabbage Loppers
A Bouns Point for You
The benefits of interplanting is a popular way to naturally control garden pests, interplanting certain flowers, herbs, and crops can confuse and repel insects, this control method is known as companion planting.
Additional information
The use of beneficial insects is a natural and safe way to control insects ( biological control), these good bugs can be purchased, or installing the right plant species and making conditions right will have your garden teeming with them.
The final word on how to control fall garden insects
The fall months do not mean that insects are on vacation for the winter months but are active in your garden preparing for the cold season, the good news is you can stop them in their tracks by following this simple guide that has helped so many gardens. Why allow these garden pests to turn your dream garden into a nightmare when you can win the war on these insect pests with these methods that have proven to be so effective?
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
Thank you Noraman for this very useful and applicable content, especially for those of us who do this as a hobby.
It’s good that I visited your site, I have an idea to grow vegetables for the family in the spring because everything we buy has no taste and the question is what is useful for the children and us, of course.
Thanks again!
I wish you all the best!
Hello andjelatuf I am so happy to help and wish you much garden success.
Hello Norman!
I’ve recently become interested in gardening, and I came across your article on controlling fall garden insects. I’ve learned a bit about pest control during the warmer months, but I’m curious about why garden pests are still active during the fall months. I thought that with the colder weather approaching, they might become less active.
Could you please explain why these insects remain active in the garden during the fall? Is it because of the need for extra food before the winter season? And if that’s the case, how do these pests affect the vegetables that are at their peak during this time?
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Hello sKamalka, so happy to help, because of the approaching winter months they seek extra food, during the winter months insects go into hibernation so to speak. Insects will feed on edible plants destroying them or making vegetables unfit to consume.
Great tips on controlling fall garden pests! I found it interesting that garden pests are still active during the fall months because they need extra food to carry them through the winter season. It’s important to be proactive and take control measures to prevent these pests from causing damage to our gardens.
I appreciate the suggestion of interplanting as a natural way to confuse and repel insects. Companion planting is a fantastic method to maximize the benefits of certain flowers, herbs, and crops that can deter pests. It would be helpful to know which specific plants work well as companions and which pests they repel.
Additionally, I’m glad you mentioned the use of beneficial insects for biological control. It’s reassuring to know that we can introduce these good bugs into our gardens or create conditions that attract them naturally. It would be great to learn more about the types of beneficial insects that are effective against common fall garden pests.
Overall, this guide provides valuable strategies to combat fall garden pests and protect our plants. I’m excited to implement these methods and ensure a thriving garden throughout the season. Thank you for sharing these effective tips!
Thank you so much for your thoughts, I am so happy to help, wishing you the best of success.
Hey grateful i have come across this post!
Since it is nearly fall this discovery couldn’t come at a better time! The insects at that time can be a great nuisance especially when their food is scarce therefore start attacking your innocent plants. Aphids are annoying as they keep destroying the beautiful roses and with ladybugs starting to hibernate there really aren’t many ways to get rid of them apart from pesticides which sometimes hurt plants too!
Have a great day!
I am so happy to help, thanks for stopping by and commenting.