Identify Your Garden Pests

Written by Karen Bates (last updated August 25, 2023)

While out working in the garden, you are sure to encounter all sorts of critters living around your plants. Some of these creatures are simply looking for a place to hide, while others are interested in snacking on the plants in your garden. You may even find insects that could be dangerous to you and your family if not taken care of properly.

At first glance, you may not be able to tell which of your garden's inhabitants are pests and which are harmless. To be sure you aren't putting your plants at risk, it is important to know if you have garden pests around your plants so you can get rid of them. You can learn to identify which insects are harmful, helpful, or neutral when it comes to the plants in your garden.

When it comes to dealing with garden pests, begin by observing your garden. Take note of what kinds of bugs are present, and then keep track of any damage you find to your plants. Odds are good that you will be able to see harmful insects in the act of destroying your plants, and this will help you know which steps to take next to save your garden.

There are a few methods you can use to help you identify which pests are harming your garden. By picking up on certain clues that these pests leave behind, you can better decide how to deal with the problem in the right way.

First, note which plants are being targeted by pests. This will help you to narrow down the possibilities because some insects prefer particular plants. From here, you can search through reference books or internet sites to help you find which pest is causing you problems. For instance, if you notice that something has been eating your tomatoes, search for bugs that primarily dine on the tomato plant to give you the best chance of finding out more information. You can narrow down your search even more by taking where you live into account. Some garden pests are either more or less prevalent in particular climates, so look into harmful insects that are known to live in your region.

Of course, one of the best things you can do to identify pests in the garden is to look for the pest itself. Not all insects will be easy to spot, but look at the leaves of the plant and the soil around the plant to see if any insects are visible. You can then use their physical characteristics to help you find out what kind of insect they are.

Author Bio

Karen Bates

An English student who enjoys writing and art, Karen has had her poetry published in her university's literary journal and has several novels in the works. ...

MORE FROM KAREN

Best Ways to Store Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs tend to be better for cooking than dried ones. There is, however, the problem of keeping herbs fresh for as ...

Discover More

Cleaning Tools

Do you want to make cleaning in your home simpler and more efficient? Be sure you have the right cleaning tools on hand ...

Discover More

Car Detailing

There is more to keeping your car clean than just washing it once in a while. Get your vehicles really cleaning by taking ...

Discover More
More Gardening Tips

Aphid Control

Aphids are nasty little critters that can easily ruin your vegetable or flower garden if certain steps aren't taken. ...

Discover More

Dealing with Chinch Bugs

If you have ever had chinch bugs before, then you know just how difficult they can be to deal with. It seems like they ...

Discover More

Removing Yucca Permanently

For some reason yucca plants are exceptionally difficult to remove. In fact, there are people that have been trying for ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 2 + 8?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)