Summer weather brings with it the bugs that love to feast on our beautiful gardens. At best they are a slight nuisance and eyesore but at worst they could cause widespread death of plant materials if not monitored and dealt with properly. Knowing the correct procedure for summer pest control and putting measures in place to ensure the health of your landscape is the only way to ensure a thriving outdoor space to enjoy this summer. Here we’ll go through some guidelines for keeping your landscape pest free this summer! If you need help from a professional to care for your landscape give us a call. We’re here to help!
Use Pest Resistant Plant Materials
One of the best ways to prevent pests is to plan your landscape with the proper plant materials and plan for ongoing maintenance. Native plants are naturally more pest resistant since they’re best suited for the environment. If you don’t want to use exclusively native plants you can find other varieties with some research. Within a species of plant some varieties tend to be more pest resistant than others. Planting those varieties will not only help that plant thrive but avoid bringing pests that could cause damage throughout your landscape. Regular maintenance is also a vital step for preventing pest problems. Correct spacing when planting, proper irrigation, regular pruning and annual mulching creates healthy plants that are able to fend of pests.
Utilize IPM Strategies
IPM (Integrated Pest Management) is a system of controlling pests in your landscape. There are many elements to IPM that work together to mitigate the presence of pests and the damage done if they do appear. If you want to get more in depth of the full logistics of IPM you can check out this article. Without getting into all of the details the basics include: proper plant selection and management, pest identification, and specific treatment plans. Using this system prevents pests and allows us to reduce the need for chemical applications. This saves beneficial pests as well as time and money. Which leads us to our next point.
Treat Summer Pests as Needed
There are many benefits of being selective about treatments in your landscape. This extends beyond just choosing organic vs chemical applications. While it is not advisable to always wait until there is a problem to treat pests doing so at the right time based on the pest is beneficial to your landscape. Landscape professionals at SCW Group are trained to know when to use preventative treatment over treating pests when they appear. With extensive knowledge of common pests here in Middle TN we are able to recognize early warning signs of an infestation and treat pests early. Which allows for minimal impact to the surrounding plant and wildlife.
Call in the Professionals
Of course we don’t expect you to go back and change plants if you didn’t take pest control into account with your landscape design. You’re not doomed to a pest filled landscape! Using these tips on future designs will help keep your landscape healthy as it grows. Having professionals care for your space will ensure early detection and treatment of pests at the right stage of development. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of pest management in your landscape give us a call! We have all the knowledge and tools to give you a pest free landscape this summer.
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