Questions tagged [pest-control]

For questions about controlling garden pests. Use this tag with questions about how to keep identified pests at bay. For unidentified pests use the [pest] and [identification] tags. For questions about pesticides use the [pesticide] tag.

Garden pests can include , other invertebrates, mammals, , and domesticated creatures. Although "" indicates that they actively destroy plants and crops, this tag can also be used for (cats/s) that merely cause inconveniences (see example question).

A range of control methods are available including synthetic , organic s, traps, and deterrents. Clearly not all methods are appropriate for all pests or situations, and many methods are illegal for specific pests and jurisdictions.

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How do I figure out what pest is eating my strawberries?

What is eating my strawberries? Every other morning I come to my patch and see the ripening berries are getting eaten ( see photo attached). I have added a net over the top to try and deter birds. I cannot see any bugs when I check the plants and…
RDub
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What are these white with black caterpillars eating Petunias in Albuquerque, New Mexico?

I'm visiting grandparents in Albuquerque, New Mexico and am trying to help perk up some of their potted and hanging potted plants. It doesn't take long for plants to dwindle in this area (dry and hot and high altitude). I keep finding tiny…
Christy B.
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Why are there small flies on my Fatalii pepper plant?

I have a fatalii pepper plant and today I discovered some very small larva in my plant's soil. I already saw that there were more flies than usual. Is there any danger for my plant ? Should I kill them ? How do I kill them ? They are white and…
Lucas Kauffman
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I'm trying to get rid of the tamarisk on my property

Lately, many salt cedars (tamarisk) are growing on my property. I'm trying to get rid of them, but I don't want to hurt any of my other plants. It seems they're grown to a field in size. They are scattered all over, and I need ways to dispose of…
Phoenix
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How do I stop woodpeckers from killing my beloved apple tree?

I have a really old Apple tree in the yard that seems to only produce every other year. (Anybody know what's up with that?) The woodpeckers have done such a number on the trunk's bark, that it looks like a sieve. Questions: How do I keep the…
Snix
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Can Nicotiana alata be used as an aphid "honeypot"?

I have a problem with aphids. Some of my plants are too weakened to be sprayed with a high-velocity hose to knock them off, and I really don't have the time to keep spraying with various insecticides, Neem, soaps etc. The ladybugs in my region…
Graham Chiu
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Should I remove the tiny, cute, white and red bugs from my Umbrella plant (Variegated Schefflera)?

I wiped the leaves of this Umbrella plant (Variegated Schefflera) some weeks ago. Now I am seeing all these white and red bugs on the leaves of the plant. I can easily take them off with a stick. After taking one off, it doesn't seem like they are…
4-K
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What should I do about ants and aphids in my mint?

I have a pot of mint on my balcony. The pot seems to contain an Aphid colony (probably a separate question on how to get rid of them). But today, I noticed many ants in the pot as well. The question is, are they here for the mint or for the…
Nathan H
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What possible reasons could the previous owner have for burying chicken wire under the lawn?

My wife and I have learned over the course of our landscaping duties that the previous owner of our home embedded chicken wire in the ground, seemingly throughout the entire backyard. It's about 2-3 inches underneath the soil. It's everywhere we…
8bitartist
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Black beetle identification, crawling on potato plant

I need help identifying a beetle I found in my garden. I've never seen them before, but suddenly today there were many of them crawling around my russet potato plants. They were quite active and walking all over the place. What are they, and do…
NeutronStar
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What are the natural predators of snails/slugs?

Trying to control snails/slugs organically in a very small garden but I don't want to kill them myself.
Organic
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Could Lawn Fertiliser kill off slug-control nematodes?

I use Nemaslug nematodes to control slugs in my garden. I don't normally bother fertilising my lawn but this year its looking a bit sorry for itself so I want to try out some slow release (6 month) fertiliser. Will this kill off the nematodes and…
Twisted
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Pine sawfly eradication once and for all

I have a mature Mugo Pine that is looking rather haggard these days due to pine sawfly larvae chowing on it year after year. I first noticed them two summers ago. There were so many of them that I could hear them chewing whenever I was weeding…
Jax
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What's the best way to deal with scale insects on Pieris Japonica?

I have a heavy infestation of bark scale on 4 mature rhododendrons and 3 pieris japonica. I applied dormant oil to the rhododendrons yesterday and would like to do the same to the pieris. However, the pieris is already in full flower - is it too…
kataob
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Do white butterfly decoys work against Pieris rapae?

I've seen various articles/posts to say that decoy artificial white butterflies, such as the one I just made, are effective in preventing attack of brassicas by the white butterfly Pieris rapae. The thesis is that the insect is highly territorial…
Graham Chiu
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