It is finally that time of year again where we can start "digging in the dirt!" I am so excited! However, with the arrival of the garden season also comes the arrival of garden pests. So what is the best way to deal with garden pests? The answers you receive would probably vary with each person you asked. Should you use chemicals, go strictly organic? What about home remedies? The following are a few tips to consider when making your decision:

1. Remember that some bugs and damage can be tolerable. So before taking action you need to decide how bad your problem really is. Is your plant being completely destroyed or is it just some minor damage that you (and
the plant) can live with?

2. When using chemicals, keep in mind that you are also likely to kill beneficial insects. This can create an even bigger problem than what you currently are dealing with. It is often wise to use chemicals only as a
last resort.

3. Sometimes the simplest solution is a good strong stream of water from your hose. I had aphids on my tomatoes last year (under the leaves). I got out the hose and sprayed them quite hard and the bugs were all blown off
by the water. I checked and occasionally would find a few that I just hand picked off of the plant, but I never had to resort to chemicals.

4. Are the slugs destroying your hostas? This is a situation where a home remedy is a great solution. Try setting out a few shallow bowls in the area with beer in them in the evening. Slugs are attracted to the beer and
in the morning you will find a bowl full of slugs and your hostas intact!

5. Garden pests can also be in the form of weeds! There are some good products out there that are effective in controlling and killing weeds. However, a good layer of mulch can be just as effective and usually cheaper!

So consider all of your options before deciding how to proceed. You may be surprised at how simple and inexpensive the solution to your garden pests can be!

Christy Porter
Editor - HerGardenWeb

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