Ways to Protect Your Plants from Pests and Chemicals

How can you protect your plants from pests and chemicals?

Use safe and natural pest control methods

1. Install physical barriers
2. Apply organic mulch
3. Remove pests by hand
4. Practice companion planting
5. Invite good insects
6. Keep your plants and garden clean
7. Provide proper plant care

Pests are inevitable creatures; they can be anywhere, including in your garden feeding on your plants. Pests are known destroyers of plants, which is one among many reasons that various companies sell chemicals to eliminate pests and insects.

However, chemicals can have detrimental effects on your plants and your health. In this article, we will shed light on healthy ways to protect your plants from pests and chemicals. Keep reading!

Use Safe and Natural Pest Control Methods

When it comes to eliminating pests and harmful insects, pesticides and insecticides are commonly the first things that come to the minds of many. However, there are safer ways to eliminate them.

If hiring a professional pest control team is not so amenable for you, you can make DIY plant pest repellants such as insecticidal soap and natural homemade sprays, use neem oil, or opt for diatomaceous earth. These alternatives can mitigate the problem at least a little bit, one spray at a time.

Install Physical Barriers

If necessary, install fences, nets, or mesh, or put row covers to physically barricade your plants from large insects or animals that may damage your plants. However, if you are going to do this method, make sure that you still give your plants enough space for light and air, so they remain healthy.

Apply Organic Mulch

Mulch is any organic material that is added on top of the soil as a protective layer or shield against pests. Applying organic mulch such as leaves, bark, wood chips, or straws safeguards your plants from crawling pests like slugs and snails. Furthermore, mulching helps enrich the quality of your plant soil by retaining its moisture and humidity, as well as preventing the growth of weeds.

Remove Pests by Hand

Some pests are just so stubborn that you have to take them out by hand. Also, they may be big enough to be seen and handpicked—unlike tiny insects—such as beetles and caterpillars. When you handpick pests, though, wear gloves to avoid direct contact with them and protect your hands. Make sure they don’t touch your clothes or skin as well, to avoid contracting allergies or infections. Carefully dispose of them after and make sure they leave no residue.

Practice Companion Planting

Companion planting is the practice of planting different kinds of plants such as flowers, herbs, and vegetables within the vicinity of one another for various purposes including pest control. It’s an effective and safe way to naturally protect your plants from pests without needing the use of chemicals.

For your reference, lavender, citronella, and herbs like rosemary, peppermint, and sweet basil can deter insects, nematodes, and other types of pests—that’s precisely why we’re selling them as our Bundle of the Month this June! Get the most out of your insect-repelling plants (and the money you put in for them!) by trying out this bundle for only P499!

Invite Good Insects

If there are bad insects, of course, there are also good ones. So if you’re ever wondering if you should shoo away every single insect that you see around your plants, the answer is simply no.

Not all insects are pests. Some are beneficial such as ladybugs, lacewings, bees, parasitic wasps, and praying mantises. These good insects are known predators of common pests that destroy plants such as aphids, mites, and caterpillars.

Keep Your Plants and Garden Clean

One way to attract pests and cause diseases to your plants is to keep your garden or plant pots dirty. If you want to make sure that your plants are free from pests and diseases, maintain the cleanliness of their space. Remove fallen leaves, debris, weeds, and other clutter that pests love (unless of course it’s there for mulching purposes). Keep your indoor and outdoor garden tidy to make no room for pests!

Provide Proper Plant Care

Humans are more likely to gain better resistance to diseases when we have a healthy immune system, which can be achieved by properly taking care of our health. Likewise, plants are also more able to resist pests and diseases when they’re properly taken care of.

To provide proper and optimal care for your plants, give them adequate water and sunlight according to their care requirements. Check out our ultimate sunlight guide and care tips for indoor plants for your reference. Pruning and trimming can also keep your plants healthy. Aside from keeping pests away by giving your plants the care they deserve, you are also keeping your plants in good shape—healthily and aesthetically.

Key Takeaway

Ensuring that your plants receive the right amount of light, water, air, and nutrients is not enough. Protecting your plants from pests and chemicals is also an integral part of proper plant maintenance.

If you have any questions or are interested in our Unbeleafably wonderful plants and services, send a message to Unbeleafable now! We love plants as much as you do, so our team will be happy to assist you with all your plant needs.