As our gardens continue to burst into life this month, the warmer weather brings with it an array of garden pests that may hinder your harvests and prevent your plants from reaching their full potential.
Below you will find a handy guide to some of the most common garden pests in the UK, along with top tips on how to deter them from your garden.
Rats and mice
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Rats and mice are common garden pests and can often cause large amounts of damage to outside areas and garden buildings. They often take up residence in or underneath garden sheds and greenhouses, and you will likely find traces of them in the form of droppings, burrows, footprints and gnaw marks.
How to deter rats and mice from your garden
If you require advice on how to get rid of rats and mice from your garden, Tony King, pest control expert and manager of The Pied Piper, explains: “Rodents are opportunistic and will be drawn to compost piles containing food waste, open bird feeders spilling seeds onto the ground, or bins left unsecured.
“To make a garden undesirable to these rodents, I always suggest picking up fallen fruit as soon as it hits the ground, cleaning up food residues after outdoor meals, and using secure, lidded compost bins. Bird feeders must be put out with trays underneath to catch dropped seed, and pet food must never be left overnight.”
Ants
Black ants are a common garden pest in the UK and can often cause damage to your lawns, garden and soil – but they can be even more problematic when they start finding their way into our homes. Thankfully, there are some natural ways to get rid of them.
How to deter ants from your garden
Ants hate the smell of citrus fruits, so placing citrus peels around the home and garden in common entry points is a good place to start. Peppermint oil is another excellent deterrent, as is cinnamon, so be sure to keep your kitchen cupboards stocked with these essentials, especially for the summer months.
Codling moth
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You may not have heard of codling moths, but if you grow fruit trees in your garden, then this crafty creature may have its sights set on your next harvest, as it is the cause of what are commonly referred to as “maggoty apples” in the UK.
Adult codling moths will be found in late May-June and will lay their eggs on ripening fruit in June-July. Coddling moth larvae will then burrow into your fruit, causing premature ripening and burrowing excrement-filled tunnels that will ruin your fruit.
How to deter codling moths from your garden
The RHS says that tolerating a small loss of fruit to codling moths should be possible for most gardeners, but you can also encourage predators, such as birds, to prey on the moths.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are a family of small flies consisting of 3,600 species, and these pesky critters can cause an irritating bite. The word mosquito means “little fly” in Spanish and Portuguese.
How to deter mosquitoes from the garden
Nick Barker, Expert and Founder of natural insect repellent, THEYE, offers some insight into the importance of protecting yourself from mosquitoes when in the garden. Nick explains: “The effects of the warmer weather have resulted in mosquito season stretching for longer than before.”
Nick explains that protecting yourself from mosquitoes is fairly straightforward and that some simple advice can help, telling Country Living : “I would strongly advise that when spending time in the garden for prolonged periods, to cover up with long sleeves and trousers and to be wary of standing water, as paddling pools and marshy puddles can attract mosquitoes.”
By keeping your garden clean, tidy, and free of large bodies of stagnant water, you stand a better chance of avoiding these pesky critters.
Slugs and snails
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Slugs and snails are some of the hardest garden pests to combat. They appear out of nowhere and leave a slimy trail of destruction behind them, taking a particular liking to tender plants and vegetables such as lettuces and salad leaves. There are some ways to get rid of slugs from your garden, without reaching for the slug pellets.
How to deter slugs and snails from the garden
Lining your garden borders with sharp materials such as eggshells or gravel will make it difficult for these slimy critters to gain access to your precious plants. In fact, Rosie Fyles, the Head Gardener at Chiswick House and Gardens, tells Country Living that copious gravel is the answer if slugs are a problem.
She says: “I’ve worked in several historic kitchen gardens, criss-crossed by gravel paths and it is so uncomfortable for slugs, it keeps them away. Occasionally, they might seek respite from the sharp, uneven surface under hedges, but they do not venture further.
“In my own garden, I installed gravel areas a few years ago and I have invested in horticultural grit, which I put in a protective ring around anything very young or tender. However, in truth, I’m very wary of planting anything in my shady, north-facing garden that is at the top of the slug hit list. My one Hosta is in a pot, on a bench, surrounded by gravel with a grit pot dressing.”
Caterpillars
Caterpillars can be a seemingly unstoppable force in the garden when it comes to their effect on plants and vegetables. Their ability to munch their way through a vast amount of brassicas can be quite shocking.
How to deter caterpillars from the garden
Ali Lijee, Gardener & Founder of TreeMend, offers some expert advice explaining: “A good prevention of caterpillars is to regularly check the plants, particularly the undersides of leaves, and if you come across eggs or larvae, remove them by hand as early as possible.
“Pulling developing caterpillar infesting plants can also help, but companion planting such as dill, nasturtiums, or marigolds can be quite useful in repelling caterpillars. If the caterpillars are heavily populated, then try a natural solution of neem oil spray or a mix of garlic and chilli can get rid of them without harming other beneficial insects.”
Wasps
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Wasps can prove to be an annoying summer pest in the garden, especially when you are trying to entertain guests outdoors or enjoy a picnic. If you want to rid your garden of swarms of wasps, then there are some options to consider.
How to deter wasps from the garden
Ali explains: “Wasps are attracted to sugary scents and food high in protein; therefore, it is advisable to keep your compost bin sealed and not leave overly ripe fruit on the ground.
Ali adds: “You can make a homemade deterrent by mixing an essential oil blend of clove, geranium, and lemongrass. Just spray the blend around seating areas and sheds, and you will repel the wasps. If you are concerned about nests, decoy nests (basically a paper bag shaped like a nest) can keep territorial wasps away from an area.”
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