Do you know the worst enemies of your plants and crops in your garden?
Its crucial to determine the locations or sources of pests for prompt intervention.
Garden pests are a nuisance because theyre destructive when neglected.
They can ruin the leaves and eat the flowers and fruits of your produce.
There are manytypes of pests in Australian homes, and many of them may emanate from the garden.
When they find a way inside the home, they can damage your belongings.
In the worst case, pests can transmit harmful microorganisms to humans, causing infection.
Identifying pests in your garden is the beginning of producing healthy plants and crops.
In this article
1.
They devourhostas,marigoldsand young seedlings.
Control: Target controls to protect vulnerable plants.
Related:15 Best Plants That Repel Roaches
2.
Vine weevils
These infest many container and garden plants.
In warm months adults eat leaves, and in cool months the grubs eat roots.
Control: On spring/summer evenings inspect plants by torchlight and pick off adults.
Microscopic nematodes (Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer) can be watered onto soil.
Suitable pesticides include Provado Vine Weelvil Killer 2.
Related:20+ Plants That Repel Snakes
3.
Cushion Scale
Heavy numbers blacken leaves ofevergreen shrubsin late winter/spring.
Insects are yellow-brown, oval to 1/8in (3mm) long.
Control: Wipe underside of leaves with a damp cloth.
Red Lily Beetle
This can strip lilies, fritillaries and cardiocrinums of leaves.
Both the adult beetles and their black, excrement-coated grubs eat foliage.
Spray plants with Provado Ultimate Bug Killer.
Rosemary Beetle
Larvae and adults feed on foliage of rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme and others.
Leaves can be reduced to short stumps.
Control: Pick off by hand.
Some aphids transmit plant viruses.
Control: Pinch out affected leaves/shoots if possible.
Under glass use ladybirds, hoverfly larvae, lacewing larvae, parasitic wasps all aphid predators.
Related:How to get rid of wasps naturally
7.
Allium Leaf Miner
This tiny fly has since become a major pest.
Larvae bore into stems and bulbs of leeks, onions, chives and garlic; plants often rot.
Control: In March/April and October/November cover plants with fleece.
They affect a range of plants; under cover they cause damage all year round.
Control: Squeeze the bound leaves to crush the grubs inside.
Mice/Voles
The nocturnal wood mouse, short tailed vole and bank vole can be seen all year round.
Under good conditions their populations reproduce rapidly.
Fruits, seeds, bulbs and veg are all attacked.
Control: Set traps where damage occurs.
Use peanut butter as a bait for mice; pieces of dessert apple or carrot for voles.
Poison baits (used with caution) may not be effective when there are lots of other food sources.
Poisonous baits include Nippon Ant Killer.
So, what bang out of pests do you see in your garden?
How do you plan to eradicate them?
Apply the control measures shared above to ensure you wont face any major pest problems any time soon.
