Smart Ways to Prevent Garden Insects in Monsoon: A little caution and regular care during monsoon can keep your garden safe from insects and fungal infections to a great extent. A little effort can make a big difference to the health and longevity of your plants.
As much as the rainy season is beneficial for plants, it is also the time for the increase of insects and fungal infections. Constant moisture, wet soil and waterlogging allow pests such as aphids, mealybugs, slugs, snails, caterpillars and mosquitoes to thrive. In such a situation, if the garden is not taken proper care of in time, the lush green plants can become weak within a few days. If you want your garden to remain healthy, green and pest-free even in monsoon, then definitely adopt these 5 easy but effective methods.
Make a ‘security line’ of copper tape
If snails and slugs climb on your pots during the rainy season, then stick copper tape on the upper edge of the pot. When a slug or snail comes into contact with the copper, a mild electro-chemical reaction occurs, due to which it does not move further. This method is quite famous in the kitchen gardens of Europe and America and no chemical is used in it. It is considered very effective especially for lettuce, spinach and flowering plants.
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Install beer trap, slugs will reduce overnight
It may sound strange, but slugs and snails are attracted to the smell of beer. Fill a small bowl or plastic cup with some beer and bury it till the soil level. Slugs are attracted to it at night and get trapped in the trap. This method is chemical-free and is considered very effective for vegetable gardens, especially during the rainy season.
Plant ‘sacrifice plant’ among plants
This technique is also adopted by professional gardeners. In this, such plants are planted towards which insects are first attracted. For example, Nasturtium attracts aphids, so that they attack your tomato, rose or chilli plants less. Similarly, marigold helps in keeping away many harmful insects. This is also called “Trap Cropping” and is a smart technique of organic gardening.
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Do ‘pest patrolling’ with torch at night
Many insects are not visible during the day. Caterpillars, slugs and some beetles are more active at night. Therefore, two-three times a week, take a torch and inspect the garden for 5-10 minutes at night. Remove any insects you see by hand and destroy them. This significantly reduces the number of pests before they become a big problem and also reduces the need for spray.
Make a protective ring of coffee grounds and egg shells
If you have leftover coffee or egg shells in your house, use them in pots instead of throwing them away. Make a thin ring of dry and coarsely ground coffee grounds and crushed egg shells around the plant. The pointed surface of eggshells deters slugs and snails from moving in, while the strong smell of coffee helps keep many insects away from plants. Egg shells also increase calcium in the soil over time.