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With the increasing trend towards wellness and slow living, growing a vegetable patch at home or on an allotment is a wholesome dream for many. However, this dream comes with the challenge of protecting your crops from garden pests!
In this article, we’ll take a look at simple ways of keeping your vegetable garden safe from pests. Read on to find out how to protect your plot from unwanted visitors.
There are a number of pests that are likely to make a beeline for a tasty-looking vegetable patch. These include insects, slugs, caterpillars, rodents, birds and larger animals such as rabbits and foxes. Even enthusiastic pet dogs can wreak havoc on your veggie plot!
Tell-tale signs that pests have found their way into your garden are holes in leaves, plants with leaves stripped away, gnawed roots and droppings.
To keep pests away from your vegetable garden, it’s a good idea to use a combination of natural, physical and preventative measures.
One of the most effective ways to prevent pests is to physically barricade your vegetables with garden fencing.
Wire fencing is the best option for keeping out pests such as rabbits and rodents. Use chicken wire with small holes (no larger than 1 inch) to block out smaller animals. It’s also wise to bury the bottom of the wire 6-12 inches underground to stop pests from digging under and getting in that way.
Row covers and netting are also a popular option. These are particularly useful for protecting your vegetables from insects. If you go for netting make sure you use a fine mesh to keep insects out and avoid injury to your local wild birds.
Check out your local country supplies store for options and advice on the best garden fencing for your vegetable garden.
There are also a number of natural repellents that you can try to keep your crops safe.
If you’re feeling creative, you can make your own homemade sprays to spritz onto your produce to deter pests. Try garlic and chilli pepper sprays, or a washing-up liquid and water solution. Neem oil is also effective for controlling aphids and caterpillars.
Copper tape around raised beds can deter slugs from creeping in. You can also try sprinkling eggshells around your plants to deter crawling pests.
For a more long-term solution, there are certain things that you can plant near your fruit and vegetables that will make them much less attractive to unwanted visitors. This is often referred to as companion planting. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can repel whiteflies, and planting onion and garlic can discourage many common pests.
There are some creatures that you should actually encourage into or around your vegetable garden. Ladybirds, for example, can help control aphids and other pests. And whilst you don’t want birds to access your produce, installing a birdhouse or two to make them feel at home in the area can work in your favour, as they’ll feast on insects before they have a chance to ruin your crops.
Investing in the foundations of your vegetable garden can also help keep pests under control. Use good compost for healthy crops; the stronger your plants are, the more resistant they will be to plant damage. And keep a close eye on your vegetables and be sure to remove any plant debris, fallen fruits and weeds. Doing this regularly will make your vegetable patch less attractive and remove any sneaky hiding places for pests.
A combination of physical barriers, natural deterrents and good garden maintenance is a great way to protect your vegetables so that you can enjoy your homegrown product to the fullest.
Have you got any tips for keeping your vegetable garden safe from pests?
Catherine
Catherine is a gardener, plant lover, writer, and award winning author of children’s nature books. Her blog is a Vuelio Top 5 gardening blog and her work has been featured in many online and print publications including Grow Your Own Magazine, House Beautiful, Daily Mail, Tesco Magazine, Suttons, Thompson & Morgan, and many more. She is also a member of the Garden Media Guild.
