How To Get Rid Of Annoying Garden Pests 

How frustrating! Each year you plant a garden only to have a host of critters invade and ruin all of your hard work. Maybe some of your fellow mammals have decided your vegetable garden is their smorgasbord and you would prefer to save your vegetables for your own table. Perhaps the insect kingdom has decided that in a world of green only your plants will do. While you might be willing to share, your uninvited guests don’t really want to take only a portion. They want it all, and even if they leave some for you, what is left won’t be of much use. They will leave dyeing plants and half eaten produce. Before resorting to full scale chemical warfare, try a more targeted less poisonous approach. 

Large critters 
Deer, raccoons and ground hogs can gut a garden in short order. Here are some idea on how to deter them. It is best not to rely on only one method but to alternate them so they won’t catch on that you are trying to trick them.

Deer
• Carnivore urine ( buy or use your own if you are a meat eater)
• Soap (the stronger smelling the better)
• Human or Carnivore Hair (contained in mesh bags, panty hose will do)
Raccoons and Ground Hogs
• Spray garlic mixture on plants
• Dust plants with Black or Cayenne pepper

The Birds
• Netting to cover berries once they start to show color
• Fake snake - Sections of a garden hose will do,
• Fake bird of Prey - Owl, hawk or eagle perched above plants

Creepy Crawlies
• Snails – a bottle or can with some beer inside will attract them and they will drown
• Cut Worms – place a collar around the base of young plants that extends just a little above and a little below the soil surface.

Little Munchers
• Aphids – Use a spray bottle filled with soapy water, about the concentration of dishwater. In fact you can use your used dishwater. Spray plants, particularly the underside.

For insects in general, if you have an old blender and the stomach for it you can make bug juice. Gather the bugs that are bugging your plants put them in the blender with some water and mix. Water the garden with the mixture being certain the bug juice gets on the plants. Suddenly the insect world finds your garden a less friendly, place to grab lunch and your flowers and vegetables are there for you to enjoy.