Tips on preventing garden pests

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Some insects and bugs can be a real nuisance in the garden. Especially if they are attacking our plants. Fortunately there are plenty of ways to deter these pests. Read on ...

General Advice on Pest Control

There are many old tips that have stood the test of time:

Yellow flowers, such as marigolds are often planted near to vegetable plots to attract insects away from the plot. Just keep an eye that the flowers don't actually attract more into the garden!

Plant a garlic clove or chives beneath rose bushes as the plants will absorb the sulphur, acting as an insecticide (great against aphids) and protect against ceratain diseases such as black spot.

Ants

Ants can often be found near plants, as they protect aphids to feed off their sweet secretions. Use washing up liquid diluted in water to destroy the aphids so that they do not attract the ants. If the ants are not a nuisance elsewhere, they can have their uses by attracting natural predators such as garden birds. However, if the ants are a pain (such as biting bare legs on the lawn!), then it is best to find the nest if possible. Follow the trails of ants as they tend to travel in lines. Use boiling water in the nests, preferably spiced up with some chilli powder to force them to move home. Alternatively, use our Ant Nest Nematodes.

Aphids

Aphids are very common on plants, such as strawberries and roses. They can be well camouflaged, but a trail of ants often reveals their presence - (see ants). There are many favourite cures, such as spraying on diluted washing-up liquid, garlic spray or lemongrass oil or placing banana skins at the root of plants. Aphids are the favourite food of ladybirds, so attract them into the garden with damp dark areas in which to hide in Winter such as wood piles (even ladybird houses) and arrange plants that attract them such as dill (seeds online). Alternatively, you can purchase ladybird larvae from us to boost the population in your garden. Some gardeners like to plant nasturtiums to lure aphids away from other plants and vegetables.

Carrot Fly

The carrot fly can devastate a crop. If possible sow carrots near to onions or chives to deter the pest's sense of smell. The carrot fly does not fly very high so a barrier of a couple of feet will protect the crop; lay a fine mesh over the crop too. Sow seed thinly to avoid thinning later as the fly is attracted by smell - if you do need to thin, do so an a still dry evening.