Gardening is a fun way to spend your free time and add some aesthetic value to your home. However, without the right gardening tricks, you can’t really succeed at it. Pests are some of the problems that keep most people from enjoying gardening. Before you start some pest control initiative to protect your garden, you must understand that there are beneficial pests and harmful ones. By differentiating between the two, you can keep your garden safe and free from pests. However, using artificial pest control methods may ruin the soil thereby halting any gardening plans. Below are some of the natural pest controls you can use on your gardens.

1. Avoid artificial fertilizers
Pests are attracted to artificial fertilizers, so avoid using them. These fertilizers destroy the soil nutrients resulting to poor growth in your garden. Use organic manure or compost and prevent pest infestation in your garden.

2. Crop rotation
Differentiate all the items you plan on planting into different groups. For instance, you could divide into groups of vegetables and flowers. Divide your garden accordingly and choose where to plant each item. The next planting season, rotate where to plant the flowers and vegetables but make sure you don’t plant in the original place. This will increase soil fertility and at the same time prevent pests.

3. Use barriers to cover your garden
By using fine mesh, you can cover all the plants in your garden and prevent pest infestation. This works best for flying pests. There are other types barriers that can be used to cover your plants. These include collars to cover cabbages and also bottle cloches which prevent pests such as slugs.

4. Trap the pests
You can easily trap all the pests using different methods. For instance, you can use beer traps and glue traps. Crawling pests such as slugs are attracted to these traps and can be easily averted from your garden.

5. Use beneficial insects
Beneficial insects such as ladybirds eat up harmful pests such as aphids. Plant vegetables that attract beneficial insects and you can easily control pest infestation in your garden.

Gabrielle

Thinking of starting a garden this year?   I’ve already begun mine and can’t wait to start harvesting!  I’ve got a bunch of tomato plants, some zucchini, some peppers, and a bunch of herbs.

Below are some mistakes that you should avoid when growing your own garden:

1. Growing From Seed
Don’t start planting from seeds since there are many complications that could come from that. For instance, pests would most likely eat out the seeds before they have grown. Look for seedlings in grocery and gardening stores and plant them. At least this way, you can track how fast or slow the seedling is growing.

2. Growing The Wrong Varieties
Different soils are adaptable to different plants. Therefore, don’t reach out for plants that can’t grow in your garden. If possible, seek advice from a gardening expert and plant the right varieties in your garden.

3. Not Watering Regularly
Most new gardeners mistake garden plants to be plants. Unlike house plants, gardens require constant watering (at least once per day) in order to flourish. House plants trap water in the pots and may not require constant watering.

4. Not Knowing When To Prune
For most new gardeners, pruning escapes the mind especially with beautiful new plants. Take advice from professional gardeners and prune your garden plants at the right time.

5. Starting Too Big
Novice/amateur gardeners should definitely start with small gardens and advance with each season. Start with a small manageable garden that will allow you to garden with ease and no hassles.

6. Not Knowing What Plants Work In What Soil
Your garden will definitely fail if you don’t plant the right plants in the right soil. Learn to differentiate soils and choose the right plants for the right soil.

7. Planting At The Wrong Time of Year
Different plants survive in different seasons. Without any idea on what plants to plant in what season, your garden will fail.

8. Using The Wrong Pest Control
Avoid using artificial pest control methods which may harm the plants. Rely on organic pest control methods to the advantage of a better garden.

9. Not Using Beneficial Bugs
Don’t eradicate all insects during your pest control initiative. By using organic and natural pest control methods, you can protect beneficial insects such as ladybirds that will eat up other pests like aphids.

10. Using The Wrong Fertilizer 
If you love gardening, you should definitely avoid artificial fertilizers. By using these fertilizers, you will definitely harm your soil and inhibit any future gardening. Try manure or compost on your gardens and your plants will definitely flourish.

 So what will you be growing this year?

Gabrielle