Have pesky pests taken over your garden? Common garden pests can wreak havoc on flower beds, crops, garden furniture and the general ecosystem of our outside spaces. Although we can live in harmony with some pests, there usually comes a point where we can’t take anymore and have to take steps to get rid of them for good (or at least for a short while!)
Read on or skip to the garden pest you want to know more about.
Jump to the pest identification infographic – click here
Aphidoidea
Weather: Warmer climates | Active times: Spring to late summer | Found: gathering on plants in groups
Aphids are destructive pests that will usually appear in your garden as the weather gets warmer. They are much feared in more temperate regions because of the damage they can cause. Each type of aphid is generally named after their plant of choice (e.g apple aphid, cotton aphid, black peach aphid[i].
Gastropoda
Weather: Rainy, moist climates | Active times: at night-time, all year round | Found: on plants or in dark, humid places
Slugs are the most widely complained about garden pest, you’ve more than likely caught a few munching away at your favourite flowers, feasting on your veg patch or gathering on your wooden garden furniture. They love humid climates and will be more present during rainy seasons, usually coming out of their hiding places at night[iii].
Formicidae
Weather: prefer warm weather | Active times: April – October | Found: in lawns, under paving, amongst plant roots and in compost bins
Ants are more of a nuisance than anything and cause very little damage to plants. They’re generally good for the ecosystem of your garden so you should leave them alone when possible.
Alticini
Weather: prefer hot weather| Active times: Spring – Late Summer | Found: on plants and around roots
Flea beetles are widespread, and there are 100 different species of them in the UK[vii] alone. They generally feed on brassicas and allied plants like cabbage, swede, turnips, salad leaves and wallflowers.
Trialeurodes vaporariorum
Weather: warm weather| Active times: all year | Found: on host plants, under leaves
Whitefly are small pests that much like aphids, feed on the sap from plants and secrete honeydew. They aren’t generally an issue for outdoor plants because they don’t live in cold conditions, but they can be damaging to houseplants and greenhouse plants. Other types of whitefly include the cabbage whitefly and viburnum whitefly.
Agrotis segetum and Noctua pronuba
Weather: warm weather | Active times: at night-time, all year round | Found: base and leaves of plant stems
Cutworm is an umbrella name for many different species of moth larvae but they are usually turnip moth larvae. The larvae are caterpillar-like in appearance and come out to feast on plants during the night, causing more damage as they mature[x]. Favourite crops include any young seedlings, lettuce, beans and cabbage.
As a Larvae
As a Moth
We’ve only covered the tip of the iceberg with pests that could be lingering in your garden. Keeping an eye out for crop damage at all times of the year, maintaining your soil well and being ready to jump onto any issues straight away will help you to keep your plants thriving.
Other than treating your garden for specific pests, you can follow this advice to keep garden pests away.
Make sure your soil is healthy – healthy soil = a healthy garden ecosystem. It may take a few years to establish healthy soil and activate helpful microbes that will fend off pests, but being patient is worth it.
Attract predatory & beneficial animal – one way to control the pest population is to provide a healthy environment for beneficial insects and animals that will feed on the pests. Toads, birds, wasps and ladybirds are all great to have in your garden.
Plant common pest repellents – there are a handful of plants which repel a number of pests. Keep insects away by planting annuals like garlic and coriander and perennial herbs like thyme and anise around important crops.
See our guide on companion planting to keep pests out of your garden here
ants.com, n.d. Characteristics of Ants. [Online] Available at: https://ants.com/characteristics-of-ants/ [Accessed March 2021].
Canna, n.d. Aphids – in detail. [Online] Available at: https://www.canna-uk.com/aphids_in_detail [Accessed March 2021].
Funnell, R., 2018. HOW TO GET RID OF SLUGS: 10 SOLUTIONS. [Online] Available at: https://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/expert-advice/gardeners-tips/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-10-solutions/ [Accessed March 2021].
GrowVeg, n.d. Cutworm. [Online] Available at: https://www.growveg.co.uk/pests/uk-and-europe/cutworm-turnip-moth/ [Accessed March 2021].
Lovethegarden, n.d. Sooty mould. [Online] Available at: https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/sooty-mould [Accessed March 2021].
Nickleson, L., 2017. Got Ants in Your Plants? Here’s What You Need to Know. [Online] Available at: https://www.towergarden.com/blog.read.html/en/2017/6/control-ants-in-the-garden.html [Accessed March 2021].
RHS, n.d. Flea beetles on brassicas and allied plants. [Online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=510 [Accessed March 2021].
The Editors, n.d. FLEA BEETLES. [Online] Available at: https://www.almanac.com/pest/flea-beetles [Accessed March 2021].
The Editors, n.d. SLUGS AND SNAILS. [Online] Available at: https://www.almanac.com/pest/slugs [Accessed March 2021].
University of Minnesota Extension, 2018. Flea beetles in home gardens. [Online] Available at: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/flea-beetles [Accessed March 2021].
[i] https://www.canna-uk.com/aphids_in_detail
[ii] https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/sooty-mould
[iii] https://www.almanac.com/pest/slugs
[iv] https://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/expert-advice/gardeners-tips/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-10-solutions/
[v] https://ants.com/characteristics-of-ants/
[vi] https://www.towergarden.com/blog.read.html/en/2017/6/control-ants-in-the-garden.html
[vii] https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=510
[viii] https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/flea-beetles
[ix] https://www.almanac.com/pest/flea-beetles
[x] https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/sooty-mould
Ryan Jenkins is a professional gardener and has been working in the gardening industry for over 25 years. This has allowed Ryan to accumulate a vast wealth of gardening knowledge which he shares on the Sefton Meadows blog.
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