Last Updated: July 16, 2024
As Benjamin Franklin said in 1735, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Now that we are at the height of the growing season, you may be noticing some unexpected and unwanted “treasures” in your gardens. Whether it’s powdery mildew, weeds or japanese beetles, preventative pest management is a must.
The best way to manage any pest, whether it’s disease, weed or bug, is to avoid it in the first place.
Disease Prevention and Management
Practice Good Watering Habits
Practice good watering habits. Watering at the base of the plant is always the best option. It prevents the leaves from getting too wet and creating the perfect environment for powdery mildew to flourish. If you must water over-top, do so in the early morning to allow the leaves time to dry.
Practice Good Plant Hygiene
Practice good plant hygiene. If your plant shows of disease, remove the diseased foliage and throw it in the trash. Clean up diseased foliage that has fallen on the ground under the plant as well. Never add diseased leaves to the compost pile or dig them into the soil as that will only compound the problem by spreading the disease.
Allow for Good Air Circulation
Make sure there is sufficient space between your plants. Crowding can produce a more humid environment that can lead to disease issues.
Use Fungicide
Neem Oil is a natural pesticide that can be used to control certain fungal diseases and insect issues in your garden.
When using Neem Oil, keep an eye on the temperature. Neem Oil should not be used when temperatures are 80° F or higher. Even though it is a natural product, it can still burn the foliage on your plants in high heat.
Copper fungicide is another product that is natural and works on a broad range of diseases.
Weed Prevention and Management
Identify the Weeds
When it comes to weeds, it helps to know what type of weed you have. Winter annual weeds like Hairy Bittercress, Chickweed and Dandelions pop up in early spring, flower and drop their seeds, then germinate in the cooler soil in fall and winter.
Summer annual weeds tend to be more grassy (think crabgrass), germinate in the spring, come up in summer, drop seeds that lay dormant over the winter, then die with the first frost.
Apply Weed Preventer
Targeted spraying with a weed killer as soon as you notice the weed and before it flowers is the good line of defense. This will help prevent the weeds from producing seeds and interrupts the cycle.
Applying a weed preventer like Preen, corn gluten or a crabgrass preventer can stop the weed seeds from germinating. Timing is everything. Apply winter annual weed prevention in late summer or early fall. Apply summer annual weed prevention in spring before the seeds germinate.
When spraying for weeds, keep an eye on the temperature. Herbicides should not be used when temperatures are above 85° F, especially in lawns. They can burn plant foliage and severely damage the crowns of the grass.
Insect Prevention and Management
Preventative Maintenance
Always start with healthy plants and keep them healthy. They are less likely to be permanently affected by insect or disease issues.
Bad Bugs Go
Consider hand-picking the offending insects and dropping them in soapy water if they’re large enough. Smaller insects like aphids and mealybugs can be blasted off with a strong spray of water.
Spray with an insecticide like Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew or a horticultural oil if infestation is heavy.
In the case of Japanese Beetles, spraying will only control the adult beetles. Treating your lawn for grubs can help prevent future generations.
Good Bugs Stay
Remember, not all insects are bad. Use care even when its a natural product. Insecticides impact not just the pests we don’t want but the beneficial insects like pollinators as well.
Companion Planting
Consider doing some companion planting in the garden. Some plants are believed to repel certain insects in the garden. Others can attract natural predator insects.
For example, ladybugs and their larvae are a natural predator of mealybugs and aphids. Planting Yarrow can attract ladybugs which can feed on the unwanted mealybugs and aphids.
