Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

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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Where do Asiatic Garden Beetles spend their days?

(Asiatic Garden Beetles are a new pest in the mid-atlantic and northeast US. They look like a smaller, cinnamon-colored European Chafer, the size and shape of a coffee bean. The grubs do the usual grub thing. The adults are nocturnal and feast on…
Ed Staub
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How can we protect a fig tree's fruit from birds?

We have a fairly large and productive fig tree, but we never get to enjoy the fruit because the birds always get to it first. What can we do to take advantage of this tree before my wife makes me cut it down for more yard space?
Cade Roux
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How can I discourage venomous snakes from living in my property?

I noticed that a copperhead has made his home under my front porch. He has been spotted two days in a row, and, yesterday, I nearly stepped on him. I prefer not to mess with him as I have read that most incidence of snake bites come from…
N8sBug
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What is happening to the leaves of my avocado?

I have an avocado plant in my outdoors balcony. It's been growing nicely, but there are small brown dots/holes in the leaves for some time now. I don't see anything in the underside of the leaves, and up until now new, healthy looking leaves have…
Eyal
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Is it too late for row cover to help with insects?

Last year I used row covers on PVC frames to effectively keep cabbage worms off my broccoli and cabbage. I put the covers on in spring as soon as I put the seedlings in the ground, and then took them off when the plants were larger. There were some…
bstpierre
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What is this bluish-grey bug on my lettuce, and how do I treat it?

I have a planter with several lettuce plants and other plants growing on my balcony. Recently, all of "normal" leafy lettuces were rapidly overcome by a bug. A sawtooth, more mizuna-like lettuce was spared, as were sage, parsley, onions, and…
Jonathan
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What are these white bugs that leave white stains on my cars and driveway?

I have these white bugs that seem to be falling down from the tree over where I park my cars. They have feathery tendrils and are staining our cars with white drops. Any idea as to what these bugs are and how to get rid of them? The first picture is…
CodeNaked
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Treating Azaleas without harming Bees

I'm trying to treat my azaleas for lace bugs without harming my honeybees. I'm especially concerned since it's not just wild bees. I've started a hive. I've been looking into it and my local AG Extension website shows three chemicals I'm interested…
Dalton
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What are these long, mostly translucent worms in my potted trees?

I buy, re-pot and take care of Norfolk Island Pine trees in my office. They're mostly decorated and displayed around Christmas time, but I take care of them year round and sometimes decorate them for other seasons. This year I purchased a few and…
Fell
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Which spiders should I allow in my garden?

I know most spiders are harmless and beneficial, but which spiders do I want to look out for and get rid of in my garden? (Midwest United States).
CrazyMatt
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What are the mini-white moths on my tomato plant?

I have some tomato plants indoors. Recently a number of very small (1 mm or so) moths dwell on the leaves. What are these? Are they harmful? What can I do about them?
neydroydrec
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Is this an ant colony on this fig tree?

Just noticed this on a fig tree and these are everywhere. It's not just on the leaves but on the stems as well. Is this an ant colony on this fig tree, Or something else? This is my not-too-techy friend's tree. The tree is about 2.5m tall. I'm…
user1249170
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How can I keep mockingbirds off potted plants (ornamental peppers)?

I have a rectangular pot on the deck full of ornamental peppers ('Poinsettia' and Chile Pequin "bird peppers"). As is typical of ornamental peppers, they're about a foot high and covered with small fruit. At the moment most are green and few seemed…
winwaed
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How do I get rid of lawn grubs?

My lawn is progressively getting worse every year. I've got large bare patches that just won't take seed, and in the spring and fall I've got racoons and skunks digging up grubs. There is also a large Norway Maple that isn't helping matters. My…
Chris Cudmore
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What are the best plants to attract Ladybugs and Praying Mantis, from your experience?

I have looked around and I have seen some recommendations for plants to attract ladybugs, for example, a few sites list that alyssum works well. I am hoping to find out others experiences about certain plant choices and how well or not well desired…
name
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