Close Up Photo of Red and Black Beetle Bug. Source: Pexels.com
No matter how thorough you are in your pest repellent methods, there will always be some bugs and creepy crawlies that manage to get to your plants and flowers. Not all of these are trying to get a free meal, though! In fact, some of the insects should be encouraged into your garden, as they are natural predators for the nasty bugs that do eat your plants. Not too sure of the difference between an aphid and a ladybug? Here are some common bugs that you need to know about.
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails are the gardener’s biggest enemies! When you find that something has been nibbling at your cabbage patch or your flowers, these are often the culprits. However, this is not the only reason why you should try to keep them out of your garden. In fact, dog owners should take particular note as snails carry some parasites that can cause heart and respiratory problems for dogs. There are many natural ways to keep these beasties out, but my favorite is homemade beer traps.
Aphids
Aphids are another problem for gardeners. In fact, they are such a problem; they have been given the nickname plant lice! The problem with these small yellow insects is that they feed on the sap from plants, which weakens the plant. This can make many flowers, vegetables, and other plants look like they are wilting. In most cases, the affected foliage often ends up dying. The quickest way to get rid of aphids is to apply some chemicals. Nevertheless, you can introduce some predators for a natural solution, including ladybugs and hoverfly larvae.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes do not harm your plants, but they can be very annoying when you are trying to relax in your garden! They will constantly hound you and try to bite you. Firstly, the best way to get these bloodsuckers out of your garden is to remove any breeding areas which includes any water that has collected in your garden, such as in puddles or in empty plant pots. Once you have done this, you should still use some natural repellents to keep them at bay. There are plenty of ideas of these kinds of repellents on websites like https://backyardville.com/natural-mosquito-repellent/. You will also find it beneficial to remove any water that has collected in your garden, such as in puddles or in empty plant pots.
Ladybugs
Ladybugs are one of the best insects you can find in your garden, so many gardeners try to encourage more to their garden. These helpful insects will eat all the nasty bugs that attack your plants. You can attract more ladybugs by planting some of their favorite flowers, including marigolds, Angelicas, and caraway plants. If you find that your garden is not a magnet for these insects, even after planting these special plants, you can order some ladybug eggs or larvae online from sites like http://www.highsierraladybugs.com.
Knowing all about garden bugs can help you create a beautiful garden space and improve the health of all your plants. Happy gardening!