Farmer’s page focus: The bug stops here
Natural ways to get rid of those tiny crawling thugs in your garden at home or farm.
Summer is here and seedlings are sprouting, some flowers are in bloom and fruits and vegetables are awaited to be eaten – but sneaky pests are always one step ahead.
The buck, or rather the bug, stops here and it doesn’t have to cost an arm, leg and a kidney or be harmful chemicals. There are various household items that can keep pests at bay.
One of the most wanted garden thieves are snails. Snails seem to have developed a unique taste for things gardeners put time, effort and love into.
Every gardener fantasises about a garden free of their tell-tale slime trails, and this is possible by making your snails a cup of coffee or pouring them a glass of cola.
According to Sarah Ford’s Bugs, Slugs and Other Invaders, caffeine stops snails and slugs in their tracks. When making your morning coffee, put some in a container for them and watch the caffeine kick in.
The aphid is another thug that hangs out in the garden, and has an appetite for that which makes your garden look and smell great.
Get rid of these thugs by filling your garden with aphid predators. Ladybugs, lacewings and hoverflies love a good aphid feast. Fill your garden with them by planting plants such as the poached egg plant and asters, which attract aphid predators.
The rest of the garden bandits can be wiped out by our little feathered friends. Attract birds to your garden by getting a bird bath or leaving food out for them.
The best bird-attracting snack can be made from lard, wild birdseed, broken up stale bread and grated apple or carrot. Heat the above in a pan, put a string through it and leave it in the fridge to harden.
These organic gardening tips will leave your garden free of pests without having to worry whether pesticides will have you growing an extra eye.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Roodepoort Record, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
