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# Common garden pests

Every garden gets pests; it is part of growing. The goal is not to wipe them out but to keep them in balance so your plants thrive. Start with healthy plants and a little prevention, work with nature's own pest controllers, and reach for barriers before you think about spraying.

## Reading the damage

| What you see | Who it probably is |
| ---- | ---- |
| Ragged holes and silvery slime trails | slugs and snails |
| Sticky, curling leaves covered in tiny insects | aphids |
| Neat holes in brassica leaves | caterpillars |
| Whole seedlings gone overnight | birds or slugs |

Catching it early makes everything easier.

## The big pests and what to do

**Slugs and snails.** Go out at dusk or after rain and pick them off. Protect seedlings with barriers of grit, copper or wool, and keep beds tidy so they have fewer hiding places.

**Aphids.** Squash them or blast them off with a jet of water. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings, which eat them by the dozen. Avoid sprays that kill those helpers too.

**Caterpillars.** Net brassicas so butterflies cannot lay, and pick off any caterpillars you find. Check leaf undersides for eggs.

**Birds.** Cover seedlings and soft fruit with netting or fleece until they are established.

**Carrot and onion fly.** Grow under fine mesh and rotate where you plant each year.

## Prevention comes first

A strong, well-grown plant shrugs off pests that would overwhelm a weak one, so start with good soil and well-hardened seedlings.

Welcome the helpers: ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, birds and frogs all eat pests. Grow flowers among your crops and leave a few wild corners.

Protect vulnerable young plants with fleece or netting, and clear away hiding places.

## Why we skip the sprays

Broad sprays kill the good insects along with the bad, and then you are on a treadmill: fewer natural predators means more pests next year.

Barriers, hand-picking and natural predators handle most problems. For a chemical-free patch you can also grow organic seed.

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I stop slugs without pellets?** Pick them off at night, use grit or copper barriers, and encourage frogs and birds.

**Are all bugs bad?** No. Most are harmless or helpful. Ladybirds, bees and hoverflies are friends — protect them.

**What eats aphids?** Ladybirds and lacewings especially. Grow flowers nearby to attract them.

**Do I need chemical sprays?** Rarely. Prevention, barriers and natural predators handle most problems.

Keep an eye on *Preventing plant diseases* too: pest damage often opens the door to disease.

The full version of this guide is on [seedschoice.com](https://seedschoice.com/blogs/news/common-garden-pests-and-control).
## For a healthy garden
* [Green manures for better soil](https://seedschoice.com/collections/annual-green-manures)
* [Organic green manures](https://seedschoice.com/collections/organic-green-manures)
* [Bee-friendly flowers](https://seedschoice.com/collections/bee-friendly-flowers)
* [Vegetables you can sow this month](https://seedschoice.com/collections/vegetables-sow-now)
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