Whether they’re the big, four-legged variety or from the creepy-crawly family, garden pests are a pain the butternut squash. Here are some quick and easy organic ways to rid a vegetable garden of pests and keep your vegetables healthy.
The Big Pests
Deer, rabbits, cats and similar may not be insects but they can do a real number on your vegetable garden. To get of these guys try:
- Installing chicken wire around the perimeter of your garden. You’ll need it fairly high to keep deer out and buried at least two to three feet below ground to keep the rabbits at bay.
- Scatter human hair around your garden. You can get this at your local salon (just tell them what it’s for and they may collect it for you to pick up). Men’s hair with no hair products works best, as it has more “human” scent on it instead of hairspray and such.
- Buy some bottled coyote urine and squirt it at the perimeter of your garden. Yucky but effective.
- Orange peels are said to repel cats so lay some of these around the garden to avoid digging up “surprises” left by your local feline.
Creepy Crawlers
They may be small but they can chew through your vegetables in pretty short order. Here are some organic ways to rid your vegetable garden of insects:
- Encourage toads and snakes to move in. Yeah, they may creep you out, but they’re hungry little buggers and they’ll eat away your problems. Leave empty plant pots lying on their side or build a rock garden with crevice for your hungry pals near your garden. Build it and they will come—and eat.
- Make a mixture of pureed hot peppers or garlic and dilute it with water. Spray this on your vegetables to ward off insects
- Plant marigolds. Bugs hate them. Enough said.
- Plant cilantro or sweet alyssum in with your vegetables to invite ladybugs to come a calling. Ladybugs have voracious appetites and will make short work of an aphid infestation in no time.
Getting rid of vegetable garden pests doesn’t mean having to break out the harsh chemicals. Use what nature herself invented and you’ll have safe and healthy vegetables without any chemical side effects.
Join me next time for a list of quick, but helpful, vegetable gardening tips.
Until Next Time—go plant something tasty!
