Pest Control In Your Garden

Pests can be a nuisance in our gardens no matter what time of year. We just tend to see more of them in the summer months as we spend more time in our gardens. So Which pests are you finding, and how can you get rid of them?

Slugs And Snails

We all know how to spot a slug or snail issue. From the silver trail that appears on the ground or on walls, to the lovely holes that appear in your soft leaves, they are pretty easy to identify.
While they can be one of the most common pests, they are also fairly easy to reduce the numbers of, and this can be done organically, which is great if you have vegetables or pets in your garden.
To begin removing them from your garden organically, while you are watering your garden on an evening, keep an eye out for them, and collect them as you go. This will greatly reduce numbers over time. Alongside collecting the ones you see, you can also include preventative methods. Using horticultural grit around your plants will deter them as they cannot easily travel over it. Using copper rings will also stop them in their tracks as they get an electric shock upon touching them.
You can also scatter bran around plants, as this will expand when they eat it, making them bloat and dehydrate, so easy to pick or allow birds to swoop in. However, should the bran get wet, it will become ineffective.
Planting slug resistant plants will also help to reduce the impact that they have on your garden. Consider planting Hellebores, Ferns and ornamental grasses.

Aphids

Aphids include greenfly, whitefly and blackfly. These pests are usually seen on mass in the warmer months and attack plants in large groups. When they attack, it can distort plant growth, make leaves curl and even die.
The best and most effective way to remove aphids is to help promote friendly bugs in your garden. This includes ladybirds and lacewings. Many birds are also a great deterrent. A number of bugs will lay eggs on infected plants, which will eat the aphids at a pace when they hatch.
You can deter aphids with pungent smells, like garlic and onion (amongst others) if you are looking for organic methods. Alternatively, visit your local garden centre for a range of pesticides.

Ants

Ants are very rarely an issue in our gardens, although you may notice them running across your patio from time to time. However, when they are an issue, or when they make your pots their home, it might be time to take action.
If your ants are living in a pot, they will be tunnelling and potentially causing damage to roots. This means it’s time to fight back. In many cases, you can flood them out with repeated watering. However, please take care not to drown your plants.
Sadly, ants are persistent creatures and will return more often than not. So for the most part, breaking up their anthills and flushing them out is the best way to go.
Most ant powders work best on indoor ant issues than external.

If you are having trouble with pests in your garden, get in touch and we will be happy to offer some friendly advice.
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