Here are some ways to prevent pests in your garden ¹ ²:
- Install a fence around your garden to keep out larger mammals
- Keep your garden free of weeds, which can harbor pests
- Keep your garden clean, and remove any dead plants and debris
- Thin your plants to prevent overcrowding, which can attract pests
- Use good soil with organic compost
- Apply mulch to your garden to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Water your plants in the morning, and try to water the roots instead of the leaves
- Use companion planting to confuse pests and attract beneficial insects
- Rotate your crops to prevent pests from building up in the soil
- Attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings
- Invite birds, such as bluebirds and warblers, to your garden
- Use floating row covers to block pests
- Learn to identify both beneficial and harmful insects
- Use diatomaceous earth to deter soft-bodied insects
