- ‘The Old Farmer’s Almanac’ recently released a chart breaking down the most common garden pests, how to identify them and how to treat them.
- Different pests target different plants.
- Many pests can be lessened by handpicking them off, adding row covers or spraying plants with a water and soap mixture.
Like many hobbies, gardening is a labor of love. You prep your space in spring, buy seeds, plant them and nurture them as they grow, watering and weeding — all for the end goal of a beautiful bounty you can enjoy. However, many gardeners never make it to that point.
Sometime between prep and harvest, their garden is overtaken by insects. Instead of plump tomatoes, they see large holes, missing leaves or worse. To catch the invasion before it’s too late, The Old Farmer’s Almanac released a chart of garden pests, ascribing certain plant damages to specific bugs.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is The Old Farmer’s Almanac?
Dating back to 1792, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is an annual booklet filled with long-range predictions, recipes, astrological insights and more. These predictions are made using findings from three specific areas of study: solar science, climatology and meteorology.
Based on the data acquired via these methods, The Old Farmer’s Almanac shares insights about temperatures, peak planting times, rain forecasts, etc. that are particularly helpful for farmers, gardeners, outdoorsmen and chefs.
Garden Pest Guide
For the casual hobby gardener, it can be hard to identify which pests cause what harm, especially if you can’t catch the culprit in action. So the Farmer’s Almanac created a chart/guide, breaking down what characteristics to look for on plants, based on the habits of common garden pests.
Recognizing that your garden has become an insect haven is the first step; identifying what type of bug has taken residence is second. The last step is treatment.
The graphic reveals the seven common garden pests and how to get rid of them organically:
- Aphids: Spray leaves with soapy water or dust leaves with food-grade diatomaceous earth
- Pest Caterpillars: Add row covers or hand remove
- Japanese Beetles: In the morning, handpick beetles off plants and spray plants with neem oil
- Leaf Miners: Add row covers, remove affected leaves and spray with neem oil
- Spider Mites: Spray with neem oil or water
- Flea Beetles: Add row covers or use food-grade diatomaceous earth
- Slugs & Snails: Tend to your garden at night and pick them off, create beer traps or use copper tape
Of course, these aren’t the only pests that might make their way into your yard. You can check out the Farmer’s Almanac’s Garden Plant Pest and Disease Control Library to see all of its recommendations for dealing with little critters.
Kate Franke (she/her) is an editorial assistant in the Hearst Lifestyle Group, covering for Woman’s Day and Good Housekeeping. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
