7 Most Common Garden Pests and How to Remove Them

We have talked about the most common household pests and how can we prevent them from infesting or deter them from our homes. Next, we will focus on the most commonly found garden pests that you should fend against. Every garden needs to be safeguarded from unwanted guests. Here’s who they are and how to get rid of them.

Slugs and snails

Commonly used methods

The tried and tested method of using salt on slugs and snails is effective but can be notoriously messy. Plus, you might ruin the soil with salt

Alternative methods

Using bark mulch dries out slugs and snails helping to deter them from your plants. Beer is attracts them a lot, so you can use that knowledge and place a snail trap filled with beer.

Remove Vine Weevils

Typical method

Typically found in pots and plants in containers and can be dealt with using chemical pesticides.

Alternative methods

Encouraging natural predators such as birds, frogs and hedgehogs will minimise the risk of weevils, as well as regularly re-potting plants. Changing the soil on a regular basis is highly effective.

Getting Rid of Lily beetles

Common method

Can be dealt with using over the counter pesticides. However, this can cause damage to beneficial insects.

Alternative method

Simply picking the beetles off by hand is effective, although be careful as they can fly away!

Remove Aphids From Your Garden

Typical method

Many off the shelf pesticides can deal with these sap-sucking pests. The pest is quite common and there are lots of different products on the market.

Alternative methods

Again, encouraging natural enemies such as ladybirds, parasitic wasps and larvae is a great natural way of dealing with aphids. Wasps and larvae can lead to other complications, but ladybirds are highly effective.

Remove Allium Leafminer (onion leafminer)

Commonly used method

A very dangerous and formidable pest in the gardening world which can be avoided by heavy crop rotation.

Alternative method

Another safer and less time-consuming option is to use a horticultural fleece or insect-proof mesh. Covering your plants will limit access to them for many different pests.

Deter Tortrix Caterpillar

Typical method

Like many garden pests, these can be dealt with using pesticides before they damage crops from binding leaves.

Alternative method

Many birds prey on insects such as caterpillars so creating a space where they can nest will help prevent infestation. Don’t install too many bird feeders, you don’t want to invite crows and pigeons. If you are reading this too late, you might want to check this article.

Removing Voles

Typical method

Voles can be dealt with by using mice and rat traps in open spaces near food supplies. There are specific traps for voles available on the market, as well, which you can set right above the burrow of the vole.

Alternative methods

Clearing lawns of areas where voles can find shelter. Piles of leaves, fallen branches, thick shrubs and others. Collecting the fallen fruit prevents voles from making their home in your garden because it limits the food supply. By collecting the fallen fruits you will also limit the chance of wasps building a nest nearby.

Keep your garden in neat conditions. Some of those pests could be a huge nuisance, especially if you rely on the crops from your garden. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a professional if there is even a sign, that things are getting out of control.