Protect your home vegetable garden from pests

One of the best parts of summer for many people is growing produce in their own yard. Vegetable gardens are becoming increasingly popular, with studies showing that up to 35% of American households grow a portion of their own food. This number has increased by over 200% since the year 2008.

An essential part of gardening is ensuring that the plants you cultivate are protected from pests. There are a few important steps that you can take during the course of the season. This blog post covers some of those tried and proven methods. However, even the best-laid plans can go awry, and calling your local professional pest control company might become the only way to protect your garden.

Spray for pests

There are a lot of sprays on the market that can prevent pests from infesting a garden. Many of them are designed to protect your plants from a specific type of pest. It is a good idea to research what types of pests are the most common garden bandits in your geographic area prior to purchasing your preventative spray. It is also prudent to search for organic sprays. You can use sprays that contain pesticides, but you will need to ensure that your produce is thoroughly washed prior to consumption. Organic sprays containing ingredients like garlic, mineral oils, or salt can be effective and much safer than sprays with pesticides.

Remove any damaged or decaying plants

It is rare to go through an entire planting to harvest season without losing at least one of your plants to pests or disease. When you notice one of your plants is struggling, it is best to remove the plant immediately. If the plant is diseased, the infection can easily spread to other plants in the vicinity. If the plant is struggling due to an infestation of some sort, the chance of the pests spreading to other plants is also very likely. The safest bet is to remove the plant and subsequently keep a close eye on surrounding plants.

Religiously remove any weeds

It is almost impossible to water and cultivate a garden without encountering the growth of at least one form of noxious weed. It is important to plant your garden in an organized way where you can easily tell which plants are supposed to be there, and what intruding weeds are not. Weeds consume the water and soil nutrients that your vegetable plants need to survive. Weed your garden on a regular basis for best results.

These are a few of the methods you can use to ensure a fruitful season for your garden. As we mentioned, these practices aren’t fool proof, and if they fail, be sure to reach out to a local pest control professional for assistance.