Simple Ways to Keep Bugs Out of Your Fall Garden
In areas like Alabama, fall has a fair amount of bug activity. October days can still get warm and the nights aren’t too cold yet. The conditions are just fine for many insect species that aren’t quite ready to overwinter.
Before they settle down insects are filling up on food, and fall gardens are their prime target. You’ve taken so much time and care to get fall plants through the late summer it would be a shame to lose them now.
There are a lot of tips out there for fall gardening, but this list includes only the easiest and most effective pest control strategies for the yard. If you only have time to do a few things in the garden this autumn it should be the items listed here.
Till the Soil
Soil pests are a serious problem in Alabama. Tilling the soil is an easy way to disturb them and bring them up to the surface where predators are waiting for a meal. Experts at the Alabama Cooperatives Extension System (ACES) recommend tilling the soil in fall to keep insects from overwintering beneath your garden and eating the plants.
Cover the Garden With a Floating Row Cover
If bugs can’t get to your garden they certainly can’t eat it. A floating row cover is great for the fall for a number of reasons:
- It allows water and varying degrees of sunlight through based on the cover you choose.
- It provides some protection against the cold and frost.
- It creates a barrier that keeps bugs out of your garden.
Floating row covers are a really handy tool this time of year. If you prefer, you can just cover the garden during periods when bug activity is high.
Inspect All Plants and Foliage Before Bringing It Home
Some bugs are able to travel long distances because they hitch a ride with people. If you’re looking for plants to add to your fall garden give them a good once over first. Home stores and nurseries can have insects just like any other property. You’ll also need to inspect decorative wreaths and holiday displays to make sure they’re bug-free as well.
Refresh the Mulch
Mulching in the fall comes with a few benefits. First, it will reduce the need to weed now and in the spring. Second, it helps the soil retain moisture, which in turn helps plants grow stronger. Lastly, it can serve as a safe haven for garden pest predators like the ground beetle. Just about any organic matter can be used for your mulch once the plants have grown at least four inches tall. Shredded bark is a favorite among landscapers because it breaks down slowly and doesn’t deplete too much of the soil’s nitrogen.
Protect Plants From Cutworms With Toothpicks
Even if you use a barrier and refresh the mulch, insects that attack from underground can still strike. Cutworms are one of the most bothersome fall garden pests because this is how they feed off of young plants.
Here’s a simple fix. Gently stick toothpicks in the ground all around the plant’s stem. Cutworms wrap around the stem so they can chew right through. The toothpicks prevent cutworms from getting their bodies around the stem.
Keep Maintaining the Garden and Yard
Once the temperature drops we start bringing things inside for the winter but there are still a few months of fall left. Continuing to maintain the garden and yard will help prevent insects from overwintering on your property.
Keeping your home and yard pest-free helps to control problems out in the garden. Give Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. a call today to discuss how we can protect your property with customized pest control treatments.
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/garden-pest-control/simple-ways-keep-bugs-fall-garden/