How Can I Keep Bugs Away from My Plants for Good?

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Gardening is a very rewarding hobby. You’re doing something nice for nature and yourself, and you get to see your hard work grow into something beautiful. Though, there’s one pesky thing that always gets in the way of achieving optimal results. Any gardener will testify that bugs are the ultimate pests which downgrade the beauty of their garden. It’s especially bad if we’re talking about a small indoor garden because then the bugs can easily reach the rest of your home. In that spirit, here are some tips on how to keep the bugs away from your plants and enjoy your garden in all its beauty.

Tips to Help You Keep Bugs Away from Your Plants

1. Don’t Overplant Your Garden

Squeezing as many plants as you can into a tight space might seem like a good idea, but it will only cause trouble. Not only will this look unappealing, but it will also make it much easier for bugs to infest your garden and much harder to get rid of them. This mostly has something to do with air circulation.

In order to survive and grow, your garden needs a breeze. If your garden is missing that, bugs have a nice shelter from the cold and head. On top of that, they’ll be safe from predators. So spread your plants out and stop the problem before it happens.

keep bugs away, garden

2. Host Friendly Animals

Your garden can easily become the host of friendly animals which won’t harm your garden but will eat the bugs for you. You can rely on toads, frogs, and birds to be on your side. What’s more, inviting more nature into your garden will make it livelier and more pleasant to be in.

You can put up a toad house and wait for someone to move in on their own. If they sense food and security, they’ll hop right in. If you aim to attract more birds, build a birdhouse or incorporate a bird bath into your garden. You don’t have to try too hard to attract birds though, they usually find their own way to any luscious garden.

3. Always Water in the Morning

Watering your garden in the morning is an easy tip if you want bugs to stay away. Even though it might be a hassle to get up earlier just to water your plants, it has two major benefits. Your plants will be hydrated in the warmest part of the day, which means they’re less likely to wilt. That also means they’ll stay healthy and won’t get attacked by bugs.

Likewise, the leaves will be dry by the time evening comes, which means they won’t draw any attention from bugs drawn to moisture and dampness. Staying dry in the evening will also help you get rid of slugs and snails, which are usually as annoying and hard to shake as bugs.

4. Use the Power of Herbs

Herbs can make a wonderful addition to your garden while keeping insects away. The more fragrant they are, the better they’ll work. You should use something like mint, lemongrass, or lavender. Place the herbs equally around the garden and watch the bug disappear completely.

What’s more, this will give your garden a completely new look and help your flowers and plants grow without any troubles. Lemongrass is especially useful against mosquitos, whereas lavender should be used if you have moths, fleas, or flies. If you’re having troubles with pesky ants, you can also use turmeric powder as a repellent.

keep bugs away, garden

5. Keep Your Flowers Healthy

Unhealthy flowers are often the first target of any bug. That’s why it’s important to regularly check up on your garden and keep your flowers healthy. There are various tells you can look for to see if you have stressed or weak plants that could be targeted.

Look for pest infestations and infections and damaged leaves. You should also track the leaf color of your flowers as it is usually the first sign that something is wrong. When checking for the infestations, make sure to wear a pair of thick gardening gloves so as to avoid potential injury. You never know if any creepy crawlies are already lurking around, so it’s best to stay safe than sorry.

6. Use Neem Oil Spray

Insecticides are very effective against bugs, but the wrong kind can end up killing your plants, too. That’s why you should opt for natural solutions which won’t do anything but solve your problem. Neem is one of the solutions as it a natural insecticide from India.

It’s been used for these purposes for centuries, so you can trust that it will work as a permanent solution. With Neem oil, you’ll get rid of soft-bodied insects such as mites and aphids among others. This repellent is also fairly easy to obtain, so it won’t cost you a lot of money or effort to clear your garden of danger.

Conclusion

In conclusion, bugs don’t have to be the reason your garden isn’t blossoming as it should be. Listening to the advice above will surely help you deal with this issue and keep bugs away for good. Though, it’s important to remember that your garden is a living ecosystem and that bugs will be naturally drawn to it. It’s even healthy to have some bugs living there, but the situation definitely needs to be kept under control. We’re confident you’ll be able to safely manage this ecosystem and that it will prosper under your green thumb.

Author Bio: Mia Johnson is a freelance writer with a ten-year long career in journalism. She has written extensively about health, fitness, and lifestyle. A native to Melbourn, she now lives in Sidney with her 3 dogs where she spends her days writing and taking care of her 900 square feet garden. 

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