Garden Bugs
For as much as I like most bugs, they undoubtedly have a way of ruining a garden in a very timely fashion. As a child, I would run from the garden to the woods, transplanting as many garden bugs as possible before my mother came out to send them to their final resting cloud in the sky. I always thought it was rather unfair to kill garden bugs. After all, they were just bugs who were hungry and had landed in the garden to eat. How are garden bugs supposed to tell the difference between the regular plants and the garden?
As an adult, however I now understand the vast amount of money that can go into a garden, and I understand that garden bugs have a critical mass population and wiping out a few hundred isn’t something that is going to send my soul to hell, so down with the garden bugs.
Fortunately there are some very effective methods of dealing with garden bugs that are inexpensive, non-toxic, and safe for everyone except the garden bug. Depending on the particular garden bug you find yourself plagued with you may very well be able to get rid of your pesky garden bugs without ever having to chemically treat your garden.
I know that slugs are not a garden “bug” per se, except that they are in your garden and they definitely bug you as they slowly destroy all you plants. Personally, I like slugs and do make the effort to remove them before killing them. However, once I am outnumbered, my only option is to send them off to a happy garden bug heaven.
Slugs are very attracted to beer. When killing garden bugs with beer, quality actually does matter. They seem to prefer the Corona or Killian’s type of beer, bug for a garden bug, they certainly like to swing it back. Tupperware containers that are no more than an inch high with about ¾ of an inch of beer on the bottom placed strategically around the garden will attract this sweet and loveable garden “bug” where he will merrily drink himself into a drunken stupor and fall fast into a permanent sleep. It is my belief that if we have to kill the garden bugs, we should do so with as much kindness and thoughtfulness as humanly possible.
Japanese Beetles, the garden bug that loves to murder the rose bushes, quietly rest in perpetual silence in a small jar of olive oil. These garden bugs are simple to scoop into a small jar where they will ultimately fall into a peaceful permanent sleep.
Of course, there are specific plants that will help minimize garden bugs in your garden. Planting Basil next to your ground cover for instance helps deter tiny gnats once the basil reaches maturity. The list is endless. Next time your garden bugs are snacking heavily, check out the vast array of alternative methods of deterring and destroying garden bugs without causing significant harm to plants, pets, children, or other helpful small creatures.
Related Reading:
Build an Extreme Green Raised Bed GardenThis construction project shows how to build a raised bed garden that is slightly different from conventional wisdom. Designed with the weekend do-it-yourselfer in mind, this project requires minimal skills to complete.
Jack's Garden"Building on a rhyme that will be familiar to many children, author-illustrator Cole creates an enticing guide to creating a garden. 'This is the gard... Read More >
Small Gardens And How To Make The Most Of ThemOriginally published in the late 1800s, this is a delightful book on gardening that still contains much information of relevance to today's gardeners.... Read More >
In Search of Paradise: Great Gardens of the WorldIn Search of Paradise is a survey of the great gardens of the world, presented through photographic images and the descriptions of the garden designer... Read More >
The Curious GardenOne boy's quest for a greener world... one garden at a time.While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden... Read More >
The Forgotten Garden: A NovelFrom the #1 internationally bestselling author of The House at Riverton, a novel that takes the reader on an unforgettable journey through generations... Read More >
How do you kill garden bugs!?
I have just rented an apartement right by a garden!! Every other day I am killing spiders and other garden bugs! How do I stop these pests from coming into the house?! Will a bug spray work?
take your hoes and spray them down
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Spiders eat bugs… so just pick them up and put them back outside.
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try seven dust sold at most harware & garden shos
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Unless they are in the house, relax. Most bugs prefer to live outside. Just because they are outside doesn't mean they are coming indoors.
The very best tool is the vacuum. Vacuum indoors around all windows, doors and baseboards frequently…….daily if possible. You can also vacuum outside along the door thresholds and windows. Look for cracks where insects might be getting in and seal them. Make sure your window screens are tight, not bent. Brush down the sides of your house to keep webs from forming.
Don't poison yourself trying to keep bugs outside. Goodness, those days are gone. If you are getting bugs inside, first try borax under baseboards, in shallow jar lids under the sink, etc. If you see a bug indoors, vacuum it up! If you want to kill it in the bag, use a tiny squirt of bug spray up the hose while vacuum is running. Remember to change your vacuum bags often…..especially if you are collecting critters.
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