Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
and bears like vegetables just as much as we do. Take the time to
observe what kind of animal is entering your garden. They often
come out and feed at dusk or dawn. If it's not a wild animal, maybe
your neighbor's dog or cat is sneaking in and digging up your plants.
Keep watch to see what is causing the problem.
If you need to set physical traps to stop insects and other animals,
consider the following:
•
Set mice traps.
•
Put out a dish of beer to attract slugs or lay a board for them to crawl
under and then destroy them.
•
Use cutworm collars around the base of the plant to prevent the cut-
worm from climbing up the stem.
•
Set out sticky yellow flytraps, which will attract the flea beetle. The flea
beetle sticks to the trap and dies.
•
Use row covers to prevent flea beetles, carrot rust flies, or cabbage flies
from reaching the veggie plants so they can't lay their eggs on them.
•
Build a fence to keep out dogs, cats, raccoons, bear, and deer.
Attracting predators that will eat your pests is another natural way
to keep the cycle in your garden healthy. Grow flowers, herbs, and
certain vegetable plants to attract birds, ladybugs, honeybees, and
lacewings, which will keep a lot of your pest problems under control.
Harmful Pests Versus Beneficial Insects
and Animals
When you first begin to garden, there is a lot to learn about which
bugs are good for your garden and which ones are harmful. It takes
time to get to know what is living in or entering your garden, and
each year may bring a new problem. Learn by asking fellow garden-
