There’s nothing worse than seeing your beautiful garden consumed by ravenous pests. Often it can be difficult to tell just what ails your plants, but if our years in the landscaping industry have taught us anything, then we know that the problem usually lies with one of these 4 common pests. What’s killing your plants?
Aphids
Aphids are one of the most common reasons a plant may become unhealthy. These insects typically cluster on the undersides of leaves and stems to suck a plant’s sap and lay eggs. As a result, new growth on a plant that is infested with aphids usually appears deformed and stunted. Ladybugs are a good solution to an aphid problem, as are certain pesticides. A termite control los angeles service will normally be able to help with these sorts of infestations!
Scale Bugs
It’s easy for scale bugs to go unnoticed until a plant is completely infested. These insects typically look like small scabs on a plant’s stems and undersides of leaves — they’re tiny, oval spots that may have a waxy coating. Like aphids, they suck plant sap and cause the plant to become diseased, but unlike aphids, scale bugs produce a honeydew that attracts ants and even more insects. Remove them by swabbing stems and leaves with rubbing alcohol.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies are exactly what they sound like: white flies that infest a plant and damage its growth. In their larva stage, they look like small scales (but different than scale bugs) and can be removed through diligent pesticidal soap treatments. But adult whiteflies can be a difficult problem to beat — when sprayed with insecticide, they fly away, only to return later. Be sure to nip these pests in the bud (no pun intended).
Rabbits
Not all plant-killing pests are insects! Rabbits are actually a very common assailant to outdoor gardens, especially in edible gardens. Some gardeners successfully deter these rodents by putting wire fences around their gardens. Others may need to take more drastic measures, like putting containers around individual plants.
Have a pest that keeps eating your precious posies? ABC Scapes is here to help. Give us a call at 602-404-0568 to schedule a visit.