One of the best things about having your own backyard is planting a garden with beautiful plants and fresh vegetables that you can use in the kitchen. But while we’re rooting for your garden to be healthy and successful, not everyone is.
Controlling pests are a huge part of maintaining a garden, especially during the hot and muggy summer months in New Jersey. Here’s what you need to know about keeping gardening pests at bay to enjoy lovely garden and bountiful harvest all summer long.
Gardening Pests Native to New Jersey
Unwanted gardening guests are bound to pop up when you least expect them if you haven’t prepped your garden for pest season. Every geographic location has its own unique collection of insects and pests that thrive in that particular climate and conditions.
Stink bugs are particularly problematic in New Jersey because they can practically devour your entire garden in just a short amount of time. These are some of the most common insects and pests that are native to New Jersey.
- Stink Bugs
- Red Spider Mites
- Gall Mites
- Whiteflies
- Thrips
- Asian Longhorned beetles
- Southern Pine Beetles
Not only are insects a problem for gardens here, but also small mammals, including rabbits, squirrels, and mice.
Plants and Vegetables That Attract Gardening Pests
Garden pests can be picky about the types of plants and vegetables that they choose to feast on and destroy. And some plants and vegetables are more prone to pest activity than others. You can either choose to avoid planting these varieties entirely, which would be a shame, or take special precautions to make sure they are safe and protected in your backyard.
Although essentially anything in your garden could be susceptible to pests, these are some of the types of vegetable plants that often attract pests in your garden.
- Tomatoes
- Cabbages
- Asparagus
- Potatoes
- Cucumbers
- Carrots
- Vine crops
Preventative Measures for Garden Pests
Fortunately, there are quite a few preventative measures that you can take to keep pests out of your garden so you can enjoy it with peace of mind. One great way is to prepare your soil with mulch to reduce weeds. You can also use plastic tarps, netting, and fences as physical barriers to keep out pests.
Try to choose disease-resistant varieties of plants and vegetables, and throw out diseased plants as soon as you notice an issue. Rotating crops and giving plants more space to grow can really help deter pests too. Although you might think that your household pets would be a nuisance to the garden, dogs and cats can actually help it stay pest-free. Cats can be skilled at catching gophers and other rodents, while dogs are effective at keeping furry pests far away.
But one of the best ways to prevent pests in your garden, including the ever-present stink bug in New Jersey, is to call a professional exterminator service for treatment. Stink bugs, for example, emerge between May and June and then lay eggs between June and September, so you may be going through this type of infestation right now.
Call Precise Termite and Pest Control at (866) 971-2847 for garden pest trap treatments and garden pest removal services to rid your garden of pests and prevent future invasions too.