Hey everyone, has anyone else been feeling swamped by pests during mid-summer? Every year, I think I can manage them, but the pressure just builds up. By late July, with temperatures at 35°C almost daily, caterpillars invade and start munching on everything. Spider mites become unmanageable too, and broad mites are usually on a rampage. My eggplants can't escape scale infestations either. I find myself spraying daily just to keep them at bay, alongside having to cut down heavily infested plants. Honestly, it feels like a losing battle, and I can't help but wonder if anyone else is dealing with this in their area?
3 Answers
You’re not alone in the pest struggle! This time of year, I shift to a more hands-off approach. Some plants make it; some don’t. But I’ve noticed that attracting birds with feeders and water really helps keep pests at bay. Plus, I don’t use pesticides, though I do put some copper fungicide on my tomatoes to handle leaf spots.
Ha, I can totally relate! I’m in the US and honestly, it feels like I have more diseases than pests. Fungal issues are my main enemy, but surprisingly, I’ve had it a bit easier with pests compared to my friend who just started a garden. She has squash vine borers wreaking havoc on her squashes. Sometimes I think we should just sprinkle in some natural predators like hawks or even a younger dog. What do you think of using diatomaceous earth? Does it help with spider mites?
So true, it's like a constant battle out there! I deal with all sorts from slugs to aphids, and it doesn’t help that I have some moles too. I’ve been going with preventative sprays like BT on my tomatoes and using slug bait. Surprisingly, I let some aphids hang on my native plants and now ladybugs are showing up to help. Nature can be a wild ride!