Bug and critters damage
For the most part garden looks good but it's never 100% perfect. Every day I have to check for bugs and critter damage, worry about raccoons getting inside or like this photo below pick up salads that were pummeled by torrential downpour last night. It literally flattened half of my garden. And sadly more rain on the way - looks like we'll be soaking for another week again.
Then there are squirrels, moles, groundhog and raccoons to worry about - my guess the culprit in this case is a squirrel. Of course they don't just go for any berries, they have to go for ripe large ones.
And with mild winter bugs are rampant in the garden wiping out everything that is green. Between early leaf drillers, slugs and cabbage caterpillars it's very hard to have good harvest. As you can see from shot below the damage is substantial. I did cover the bed but it was too late - bugs already were inside and since I don't use sprays they have a feast. Next year I'll create a cover as soon as it's planted.
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Sorry to hear about all your issues with animals. Do you live in a wooded area out in the country? I sure wish I could have some of that rain, it is going on 4 weeks without a drop here.
ReplyDeleteYes, we're outside of main towns surrounded by farms and state parks. I wish I could send that rain away because it's flooding everything here.
DeleteI guess there isn't much you can do being in the country like that other than put a high chain link fence or some other kind of barrier around it.
DeleteGarden is surrounded by 5 foot fence already.
DeleteI use diatomaceous earth sprinkled on my plants to deter bugs. It's an organic alternative to the ever popular "Sevin Dust," I think it is called. It has worked wonders for me!
ReplyDeleteYou do have to be wary of using it on things that are insect pollinated, as it can harm bees, too.
I've heard of d-earth but the problem it also kills good bugs like worms and bees.
DeleteJenny, we seem to be having the same problems, too much rain and a population explosion of insects. I'm finding that the edibles in the flower beds have less damage due to a wider spacing. Also they are scattered around and not planted all together like in the kitchen garden. One thing I have noticed is a large increase in beneficial insects. My alyssum are teaming with syrphid flies!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to keep it wide planted but with space is in high demand I try to cram as many veggies together as possible. Maybe it's my own fault that it's only propagating more bugs, but i think 3 weeks of rain are not helping either. I do hope my garden will balance itself out now that i pulled most of the salads out of the way.
DeleteHi Jenny, So sorry to hear of all your critter problems and too much rain. Our rain we got the other day was most welcome. I guess gardeners just have to hang in there! Nancy at Cozy Thyme Cottage
ReplyDeletewell i'm hanging in here. it's been raining all day today and only now clearing up. expecting 60/45 tomorrow and then more rain during the week.
DeleteThose photos could have been taken in my garden. I have the same issues and I think it is mostly due to the overly warm winter the bugs all survived and multiply.
ReplyDelete