What is attacking my plants?
It’s summer and the garden is thriving. Until it’s not.
Overnight, flowers and vegetables appear deformed and full of holes. Plants are wilted, sooty and generally unhappy.
Unfortunately, garden pests have found your delectable plants. At Pest HQ, we’ve heard this a lot from Ontario gardeners this summer.
Warmer winter and spring weather and abundant rain help garden pests thrive. And they reproduce quickly. If you don’t act fast to get rid of them, you’ll have a major infestation on your hands with plants being severely damaged.
How do I get rid of garden pests?
The first step is knowing which pest is causing the problem. Then, use nature-based sprays, baits or traps to eliminate them. Pest HQ sells a discounted product bundle to solve all of your garden pest issues.
Do not apply toxic chemicals in the garden. They’re not good for the environment, your children, your pets or yourself.
Three garden pests are causing big problems this year:
- Aphids suck the sap of plants. The tiny insects gather in mass on new shoots and the undersides of leaves. They transmit plant viruses and excrete honeydew. Honeydew makes plants sticky, sooty and attracts ants, which may move indoors.
Get rid of aphids with insecticidal soap.
- Japanese beetles are invasive. They eat the leaves and flowers of plants. Female beetles lay eggs in the ground. These hatch into grubs, which eat the roots of turfgrass, causing it to die. The grubs attract skunks that dig up lawns to eat them.
Get rid of Japanese beetles with pheromone traps.
- Slugs looks soft but have strong mouthparts. They chew holes in leaves and fruit. Hostas, strawberries and tomatoes are prime targets of this pest. Slugs like damp earth under rocks and leaf litter. They are most active at night and on cloudy days.
Eliminate slugs with bait.
Questions? Contact Pest HQ!
