How to keep pests out of your garden

It’s the height of the summer, and various wildlife are continuing to find their way into backyard gardens. Rabbits, groundhogs and insects can relentlessly nibble at fresh leaves off of tomato plants and sunflower sprouts. Here are some tactics to keep your garden pest-free:

Fences

A simple fence made out of chicken wire stapled to wood posts can effectively keep small animals away from your plants. The price of chicken wire can add up quickly, though, so it may not be the most cost-effective for large gardens.

Repellents

Spraying your plants with store-bought pesticides made by Sevin, Ortho or other companies can deter critters from destroying vegetables. However, insect repellents can cause dogs or other pets to fall seriously ill if they are exposed to them.

Coffee grounds

If you make coffee every morning, toss the grounds in your garden instead of in the trash can. Coffee grounds serve as a slug repellent since the smell isn’t too inviting to them.

Traps

If your garden pests are out of control, you may need to try trapping to rid your property of groundhogs and similar animals. Traps can be purchased at your local hardware store or stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart. Just like repellents, make sure your dogs and your neighbors’ dogs do not find a way into your traps.

Cats

Your outdoor cat can be a major help at scaring away – or taking care of for good – small rodents, including chipmunks and moles, that frequently feed in your garden.

Try one or more of the above solutions according to your needs and circumstances and soon enough, your garden should be nuisance-free so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor at harvest time.

Have a gardening tip not listed above? Share them with us!

4 more posts about garden pests:

• How to control groundhogs
• How to keep wildlife out of your garden
• Fencing ideal for averting garden pests
• Fact and folklore: Ways to keep pests from gardens