Summer is a wonderful time for gardening, but it also brings along some unwelcome visitors: pests. Have you ever walked out to your garden on a sunny morning, only to discover holes in your leaves or sticky residue on your flowers? You’re not alone! These are classic signs that pests are at work.
From tiny aphids to pesky slugs, summer pests can quickly turn your lush, thriving garden into a scene of devastation. The good news is that with the right knowledge and tools, you can keep these invaders at bay and maintain a healthy, beautiful garden.
In this article, we’ll identify the top 10 summer garden pests that you might encounter, and share effective prevention and control methods to protect your garden. So, if you’re tired of seeing your hard work nibbled away by uninvited guests, read on.
1. Aphids
Aphids are tiny, pear-shaped insects that come in a variety of colors, including green, black, brown, and yellow. They are often found in clusters on the undersides of leaves or on new growth. If you notice your plant’s leaves curling, yellowing, or stunted growth, aphids might be the culprits. They also produce a sticky substance called honeydew, which can attract ants and lead to sooty mold on plants.
Prevention and Control:
- Introduce Beneficial Insects: Ladybugs and lacewings are natural predators of aphids. You can buy these beneficial insects online or at garden centers and release them into your garden.
- Insecticidal Soap or Neem Oil: Spray plants with insecticidal soap or neem oil to kill aphids on contact. Be sure to cover both the tops and undersides of leaves.
- Blast with Water: Sometimes, a strong spray of water from a hose can dislodge aphids from your plants. Do this in the morning to allow plants to dry out during the day.
2. Whiteflies
Whiteflies are small, winged insects that resemble tiny white moths. They are usually found on the undersides of leaves and will fly up in a cloud when disturbed. Look for yellowing leaves, a sticky substance (honeydew), and sooty mold as signs of whitefly infestation.
Prevention and Control:
- Yellow Sticky Traps: Place yellow sticky traps around your garden to catch adult whiteflies. They are attracted to the color yellow and will get stuck on the traps.
- Introduce Natural Predators: Predatory insects like ladybugs and lacewings can help control whitefly populations.
- Neem Oil or Insecticidal Soap: Spray affected plants with neem oil or insecticidal soap, focusing on the undersides of leaves where whiteflies tend to congregate.
3. Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails are easy to spot with their soft, slimy bodies and the telltale slime trails they leave behind. They are most active at night or on rainy days. Look for irregular holes in leaves and chewed seedlings.
Prevention and Control:
- Create Barriers: Use copper tape or diatomaceous earth around your plants to deter slugs and snails. These barriers create an unpleasant surface that they won’t cross.
- Beer Traps: Bury shallow containers filled with beer at soil level. Slugs and snails are attracted to the beer, fall in, and drown.
- Manual Removal: Go out at night with a flashlight and handpick slugs and snails off your plants. Drop them into a bucket of soapy water to dispose of them.
4. Spider Mites
Spider mites are tiny, often red or yellow, and difficult to see with the naked eye. They thrive in hot, dry conditions and can be identified by fine webbing on plants, discolored leaves, and leaf drop. Look for stippling or tiny yellow dots on leaves as early signs.
Prevention and Control:
- Regular Watering: Mites dislike humid conditions, so keep your plants well-watered. Regularly spray plants with water to dislodge mites.
- Insecticidal Soap or Miticides: Apply insecticidal soap or miticides to infested plants. Ensure thorough coverage, especially on the undersides of leaves.
- Introduce Predatory Mites: Predatory mites are natural enemies of spider mites and can help keep their population in check. You can purchase them and release them in your garden.
5. Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles are easily recognizable by their metallic green bodies and copper-colored wings. They tend to feed in groups, so if you see one, there are likely more nearby. Look for skeletonized leaves, where only the veins are left behind, as a clear sign of their presence.
Prevention and Control:
- Handpicking: In the early morning when they are less active, handpick beetles off plants and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
- Row Covers: Use row covers to protect plants, especially during peak beetle season.
- Beneficial Nematodes: Apply beneficial nematodes to the soil to target the larval stage of beetles, preventing them from becoming adults.
6. Cabbage Worms
Cabbage worms are the green caterpillars of white butterflies. You’ll often see them on cabbage, broccoli, and other cruciferous plants. Holes in leaves and chewed edges, along with small green caterpillars and frass (caterpillar droppings), indicate their presence.
Prevention and Control:
- Floating Row Covers: Protect your plants by covering them with floating row covers to prevent butterflies from laying eggs.
- Parasitic Wasps: Introduce parasitic wasps, which lay their eggs in caterpillars, effectively controlling their population.
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): Apply Bt, a natural bacterium, to infected plants. It is safe for plants but deadly to caterpillars.
7. Squash Bugs
Squash bugs are brownish-black and typically found on squash, zucchini, and pumpkins. They often hide on the undersides of leaves and cause wilting, yellow spots, and brown edges on leaves. Look for clusters of bronze-colored eggs on the undersides of leaves.
Prevention and Control:
- Remove Eggs: Regularly check for and remove squash bug eggs from the undersides of leaves.
- Neem Oil: Apply neem oil to affected plants to disrupt the bug’s lifecycle and deter feeding.
- Resistant Varieties: Plant squash varieties that are resistant to squash bugs to minimize infestation.
8. Cutworms
Cutworms are the larvae of various moth species and are known for cutting down seedlings at the base. These caterpillars are usually gray or brown and curl up when disturbed. If you notice young plants wilting or being cut off at the base, cutworms might be the cause.
Prevention and Control:
- Plant Collars: Place collars made from cardboard or plastic around seedlings to prevent cutworms from reaching the stems.
- Clean Garden Debris: Keep your garden clean and free of plant debris, where cutworms like to hide.
- Beneficial Nematodes: Introduce beneficial nematodes to the soil to target and kill cutworm larvae.
9. Thrips
Thrips are tiny, slender insects that can be yellow, brown, or black. They often hide in flower buds or under leaves and can be challenging to spot. Look for signs such as silvery streaks or stippling on leaves, distorted growth, and tiny black dots (their excrement).
Prevention and Control:
- Blue Sticky Traps: Place blue sticky traps around your garden to catch thrips. They are attracted to blue and will get stuck on the traps.
- Beneficial Insects: Introduce beneficial insects like predatory mites and lacewings, which feed on thrips.
- Neem Oil or Insecticidal Soap: Spray affected plants with neem oil or insecticidal soap, focusing on buds and the undersides of leaves.
10. Earwigs
Earwigs are brown insects with pincers at the rear of their bodies. They are nocturnal and often hide in dark, damp places during the day. You might notice chewed leaves, damaged flowers, and small holes in fruits as signs of their presence.
Prevention and Control:
- Traps: Set up traps using rolled-up newspapers, small cans with oil, or moistened burlap sacks. Check the traps daily and dispose of the captured earwigs.
- Diatomaceous Earth: Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants to create a barrier that earwigs won’t cross.
- Garden Clean-Up: Remove garden debris, mulch, and other hiding places to reduce earwig populations.