Pest Control Services Done The Right Way!
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
(918) 282-7621
www.GotPest.com
Give
Bugs The Shrug! 5 ways to de-bug your garden safely
If you're a gardener in any
capacity, professional or just mucking about hopefully in the dirt, this has
happened to you on more than one occasion; you’re armed with you trusty basket,
you’ve donned your best sun blocking hat and you’re ready to pluck the best
offerings the earth you’ve toiled has to offer when…with a slight squint…you
spot them. Holes. Withered bits. Large chomps bitten into the fruits and
vegetables you’ve waited so long to enjoy. Upon further scrutiny, you’ll
discover the perps…bugs! Be it in New York or Houston, pest control for your
garden has now become a desperate necessity.
How
Can I Thwart This Attack?!
Don’t be crestfallen if it’s come to
that, however. Some more novice gardeners feel that bugs are a sign of failure
to their craft, but it’s quite the contrary. Bugs are feasting on your fare
because they are healthy, verdant, juicy and delicious. Pat yourself on the
back…your crop’s tops! But while bugs in your troughs are a sign of quality,
it’s a sort of “thanks, but no thanks” situation. It’s time to kick ‘em out!
Try our top tips to boost your
produce and get rid of your unwanted buggy visitors:
1. Bubble
your bugs – no deed to dish out for the super fancy stuff, because you
won’t be using a whole lot of it, but a simple dishwashing liquid and water
solution is surprisingly effective. Just like the soap breaks apart oil and
grease on your wares, so will it dissolve tiny bug’s protective waxy coating.
In a short time they’ll be coating-free, dry out and die. Use a 1:10 ratio (1
part soap to 10 parts water) and spray directly on the bugs. Especially
effective on aphids, they’ll think you’re bathing them and won’t even see it
coming.
2. Save
the earth with some earth – Isn’t it wonderful when the best solutions
are natural? This one might be a mouthful but trust us, it works – Diatomaceous
earth powder. This is a safe, non-toxic powder that is moderately granular to
human touch but to slugs and other truant crawlies is like doing the worm on
shards of broken glass. One crawl over this will have them biting the dust.
3. Trap
‘em if you can – Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. A clever
garden friendly ruse will save your produce this season and there are many to
choose from. Leaf-cutter ants have an almost diabetic addiction to the sugars
in leaves, stalks and branches but you can fool them with this explosive syrupy
concoction – a tablespoon of molassess mixed with a teaspoon of yeast is the
trick. Drizzle or smear this at the base of your plants or on freshly turned
soil to lure the ants out…they will feast a-plenty and then within a couple
hours, explode!
4. Fenced
in – some chicken wire,
wooden dowels and a pair of pliers is all you need to safely barricade your
crops from larger predators while allowing them to still enjoy the sun and rain.
Not as effective on bugs but a good trick for raccoons or bunnies!
5. Bug-on-bug
crime – Lady beetles are the gardener’s best friend. They are pretty to
look at and have a voracious appetite for the most common insect invaders. A
few strategically placed lady beetles will gorge themselves delightedly on
aphids, mealy bugs and mites. Bon appétit!
Guest post courtesy of Frank Merryman and pest control Houston company Protext Pest
Control, who has provided Houston pest control services since 1978.
For local pest control service contact EnviroTech Exterminating at (918) 282-7621. EnviroTech provides Tulsa Pest Control and Nuisance Wildlife Removal Services for the local Tulsa metro area including Broken Arrow, Jenks and Bixby, Oklahoma.
