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Landscaping Pest Control
Pest control forms an extremely important part of any landscaping
project. This is because pests are bound to be attracted to this natural
habitat you have created where they can get plenty of foliage, damp
soil and a peaceful breeding atmosphere. Discussed below are a few
ways to take control over certain pests that love to invade your beautiful
backyard.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes love moisture and small pools and puddles where they can
breed uncontrollably. If your lawn has
lots of these pesky trouble makers then you can plan on eradicating
them using a mosquito repellent or even better a mosquito magnet.
Using repellants is not advisable as they contain heavy chemicals
that can cause hard to your plants. Mosquito magnets on the other
hand can be a highly effective solution for landscapes. A mosquito
magnet emits a gas that smells like human breath. Mosquitoes get attracted
towards the machine and die through dehydration.
Whether or not you make use of a mosquito magnet, there are some basic
rules you need to follow to cut mosquito growth in your landscape.
Some tips for mosquito control are as follows:
- Make sure that your landscape is free from stagnant water. You
can patch up puddles and treat seepage with pesticides
- If you landscape features a birdbath, make sure to clean the
water on a daily basis to ensure mosquito larva does not survive
- In case your landscape has pools, keep them clean and aerated.
Chlorine treatment of the water is a must
- In the same way make sure to aerate ponds on a regular basis
- Aquatic plants make your landscape look good but are also mosquito
bearers. Make sure to have a proper check on the growth of aquatic
plants
- Fill your ponds with fish and other aquatic wildlife that eats
insects and mosquito larvae
- Make use of drip irrigation to keep your soil surface dry
By following these instructions, you can easily ensure a check in
the mosquito population.
Earwigs
Earwigs or similar insects are quite common in landscaped gardens
that have piles of lawn debris, leaves and foliage. Given below are
a few tips to deal with earwigs.
- Make sure to regularly clean your landscape of lawn debris and
dry leaves.
- The use of mulch can lead to earwig infestation, so try to avoid
it in case you earwig problem becomes unbearable
- You can make use of drip irrigation instead of a sprinkler based
one to ensure dry surface
- Install bird friendly features in your landscape. Most birds
love to feast on earwigs and other insects
Following these tips can help you effectively deal with earwigs and
many other kinds of insect pests.
Controlling Animal
Pests
Animal pests are as common as insect pests in most landscape gardens.
The worst part about dealing with animal pests is the law in certain
areas that can prevent killing of animals. So the best way to deal
with them is to discourage their entry.
Some common tips to discourage groundhogs, voles, moles, rabbits and
other animal pests from entering your landscape are as follows:
- Make sure that your landscape is fenced properly
- Remove all common hideouts like tall grasses, tall weeds and
piles of leaves
- Make use of motion devices like pin wheels around the garden
fences to frighten timid pests like groundhogs
- Make use of live traps around areas frequented by animal pests
to capture and remove them alive in far-off areas
Live Animal Traps
Live animal traps are those that allow the animal to be trapped alive.
The trapped animal can them be let off in a distant place. Of all
the live animal traps available havahart traps are quite popular and
are by far the best. The traps are simple to use and are available
in a range of sizes. The best part is their design which makes it
safe to lay them around children and pets. Havahart traps can be ordered
online from the website havahart.com
Organic Pest Control
Methods
Organic pest control involves making use of common organic products
to create powerful anti-pest concoctions. Organic methods generally
involve use of insecticidal soap, Neem oil, hoticultural oil, Ground
seeds of the sabadilla lily, Pyrethrins (found in powder form and
dusted on leaves) etc. Most of these organic products are available
at home and with a little knowledge you can easily create anti-pest
treatments at home. Click
here to find various organic garden pest control methods in an
easy to understand tabular format.
Do it yourself Landscaping Guide
Introduction
Devising a Landscaping Plan
Selecting Plants for your Landscape
Things to bear in mind while purchasing plants for Landscaping
Landscaping Color Theory
Dealing with Weeds and Pests
Dealing with Insect and Animal pests |
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