Getting Rid of Pests in Your Vegetable Garden

Bugs and insects are a huge pain for many vegetable gardeners. Most bugs aren't particularly destructive, they're just annoying. However, discovering a garden pest making a meal of your crop would make anybody furious.

The tomato hornworm is one of the most unsightly pests you'll find in the garden. It is a fat, white and green worm with a big horn that resembles a stinger. You can pull it off the plant while wearing gloves, and kill it by dunking it in soapy water. You could also spray it with stomach poison insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis or neem oil.

Thrips are partial to a variety of plants. You'll know they've been there by the random white marks you see on the leaves. To get rid of them, use a hose to wash off the bugs and then spray on some contact poison.

You know when snails and slugs have been there because they leave behind a slimy trail and eat the leaves on the plants. You could purchase bait to get rid of them, but if you put a shallow dish containing beer in the garden, they will be attracted to it and drown.

If you notice fat white worms in the soil, you're probably looking at grubs. Grubs will cause your plants to droop, and may stunt their growth. They can be held in check by adding milky spore to the soil. Grubs later become beetles, which can be wiped out using stomach poison insecticide.

Cutworms tend to attack a plant's stem at the base. Putting a paper collar around the plants is really the only way to keep them away.

A corn earworm will attack your corn cobs and make a meal of the kernels. Similarly, the tomato fruitworm will chow down on the interior of eggplants, peppers and tomatoes. Choose an insecticide targeted to the elimination of earworms.

Borers are found in many vine plants with thick stems. You have to cut them out of the plant in order to get rid of them. If the borer is discovered near the base, you will have to remove the entire plant and destroy it. You can usually get rid of them with insecticide.

Beetles are bothersome pests that enjoy munching on leaves. They are able to do an astonishing amount of harm to a vegetable garden, therefore it's essential to eliminate them. It's possible to pluck the beetles off the plants, or spray with an insecticide to destroy them.

Aphids are frequently found in a vegetable garden. Typically, you'll come across bunches of tiny, soft bugs in assorted colors. To eliminate aphids, use neem oil or insecticidal soap.