Natural Pest Control for Garden: How to Keep Pests Away Naturally

Nothing’s worse than walking out to your garden and seeing chewed-up leaves or holes in your plants. Been there, done that. While it’s tempting to grab the strongest bug spray you can find, I try to stick with natural methods that actually work without messing up the whole ecosystem.

Natural Pest Control for Garden

🐞 1. Neem Oil (My Go-To) Natural Pest Control for Your Garden: Easy Tips That Work

Neem oil is a lifesaver. It’s made from the seeds of the neem tree and works as a natural insect repellent. I usually mix about 2 teaspoons of neem oil with a teaspoon of mild dish soap in a spray bottle, then fill it with water. Shake it up and spray your plants—just avoid spraying during full sun or super hot days.

It works on aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and a bunch of other pests. Just keep up with it weekly or after it rains.

🌼 2. Grow Bug-Repelling Plants

Some plants naturally keep pests away just by being nearby. Try adding some of these to your garden:

• Marigolds – keep away nematodes and aphids.

• Basil – repels flies and mosquitoes.

• Mint – good for ants and aphids (keep it in a pot though, it spreads like crazy).

• Lavender – repels moths, fleas, and whiteflies.

🧄 3. Garlic or Chili Spray

If you’re up for a quick DIY, garlic and chili sprays can keep pests off your plants. Just blend a few garlic cloves or a hot pepper with water, strain it, and spray it on your plants. Works best as a repellent, not after you already have a big infestation.

🐦 4. Let Nature Help

Attracting beneficial bugs and birds can do a lot of the work for you. Ladybugs, lacewings, and birds will snack on the pests you don’t want around. Add bird feeders or bug-friendly flowers like dill, yarrow, and alyssum to bring them in.

🧽 5. Keep It Clean

Pests love hiding in dead leaves and old plant debris. A quick tidy-up around your plants every week or two can make a huge difference. Also, rotate your crops if you plant vegetables—it helps stop certain pests from setting up camp.

🐇 6. Keeping Out Rabbits, Squirrels, and Cats

These guys can be the sneakiest pests of all. They might look cute, but they can do a ton of damage in no time. Here’s how I try to keep them out of my garden without going nuts:

• Rabbits – Sprinkle cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes around your plants. Most rabbits hate the smell and taste. You can also try putting down blood meal (bonus: it's a good fertilizer too).If you’re dealing with a serious rabbit problem, chicken wire fencing around your garden—about 2 feet tall and buried a few inches into the ground—works great.

  

  
  
  
  

• Squirrels – These guys hate strong smells too. Try soaking cotton balls in apple cider vinegar or peppermint oil and placing them near plants.You can also put up squirrel-proof feeders to keep them distracted and out of your garden beds.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  

  Cats – Most cats don’t like citrus or strong herbal scents like rosemary and lavender. Scatter some orange or lemon peels around the soil, or plant some of those herbs nearby.And if they’re digging up your beds, try laying chicken wire or mesh just under the soil surface. They hate the feel on their paws and usually move on.

Pest control doesn’t have to mean chemicals and stress. These natural tricks keep your garden healthy, and they’re cheap and easy to keep up with.

Got a favorite natural method I didn’t mention? Let me know—I’m always looking for new tricks to try in my own garden.

Spring garden prep, 5 Garden Tasks to Tackle Before May for a Thriving Spring Season

“These garden tasks are important for your spring garden prep to make sure your plants thrive all season.”

April might still feel chilly in some places (like here in Pittsburgh!), but it’s the perfect time to get your garden in shape before May hits and everything takes off. I’ve been working through my own to-do list, and figured I’d share the five main tasks I always try to knock out before May rolls around. Hopefully this helps you get a jump on your garden too.

1. Clean Up Winter Messes After a long winter, my garden usually looks rough. Fallen leaves, broken twigs, and random stuff the wind blew in—it all needs cleared out. I rake out the beds, pull out anything dead or mushy, and start fresh.

If you compost, this is a good time to add all those leaves and clippings (as long as they’re not diseased). I use a simple compost bin.

2. Prune Back Perennials and Shrubs This is when I prune the plants that made it through winter. Any dead stems on perennials get cut back, and I shape up the shrubs that went a little wild.

Be careful not to trim spring bloomers too early—stuff like lilacs and forsythia already have flower buds, so I wait until they’re done blooming before I touch them.

If you don’t already have a good pair of garden shears.

3. Prep the Soil and Beds I always fluff up the soil a bit, pull early weeds, and mix in compost or bagged garden soil if I have it. If you’ve never tested your soil before, you can grab a simple soil test kit on Amazon to see what your dirt might be missing.

Once the beds are prepped, I usually mulch to keep moisture in and weeds out. I don’t get fancy—whatever mulch is cheapest at the store works fine.

4. Start Some Seeds If you haven’t planted yet, no worries. You’ve still got time to start seeds—especially stuff like lettuce, spinach, or peas if your ground isn’t frozen anymore.

For warm-weather plants like tomatoes or peppers, I start those indoors in front of a sunny window using seed trays and a basic grow light I ordered from Amazon. If you don’t want to deal with starting from scratch, you can always pick up starter plants from a local nursery in May.

5. Plan Where Everything’s Going I learned this the hard way—if I don’t plan where things go, I either forget something or cram too much in one bed. I usually sketch out my layout on paper, figuring out what goes where based on sun, space, and what grew well the year before.

I try to rotate crops if I can, especially tomatoes, so the soil doesn’t get worn out.

If you like writing things down, a simple garden planner journal from Am

A vibrant display of assorted tulips, showcasing a stunning array of colors including yellow, red, purple, and white.

azon helps keep it all organized without having to memorize everything.

Final Thoughts:

Doing these five things now makes the rest of the garden season so much smoother. Even when money’s tight or the weather’s moody, I always feel better once I’ve got a few of these knocked out. Hope this helps you get ready too—and if you’re tackling your own spring prep, drop a comment and let me know what you’re working on!

HAPPY GARDENING!!

A serene garden path winds through vibrant beds of blue, yellow, and pink flowers surrounded by lush greenery.

5 Must-Read Gardening Books to Inspire Your Green Thumb This Spring

Spring is the perfect time to dive into gardening, whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting your hands dirty for the first time. If you're looking for inspiration, tips, or new ideas to bring your garden to life this season, there’s no better place to start than with a good book. Here are five gardening books that will fuel your passion for plants and give you the tools to create your best garden yet!

1. The Garden Primer by Barbara DamroschPerfect for beginners and experienced gardeners alike, this comprehensive guide covers everything from soil health to plant care, all in an easy-to-read format. If you're just starting out, this book is an invaluable resource. https://amzn.to/3Rhf1h0

   
   

2. All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel BartholomewIf you’ve ever struggled with limited space but still want to grow a variety of plants, this book will revolutionize how you think about gardening. Learn how to create a highly productive garden in even the tiniest of spaces! https://amzn.to/3G4T4zr

   
   

3. The Flower Gardener's Bible by Lewis and Nancy Hill Dreaming of a vibrant, blooming garden? This book covers everything you need to know about creating a colorful flower garden, from choosing the right plants to designing your space for year-round beauty. https://amzn.to/3GjPhy7

   
   

4. The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust For those looking to master the art of perennial gardening, this book offers expert advice on how to maintain beautiful, low-maintenance gardens that come back year after year. If you love the idea of perennials but don’t know where to start, this one’s for you.

   https://amzn.to/42QBcQH

   
   

5. Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon Want to get a little more scientific about your plants? This book takes the mystery out of plant biology and gives you the knowledge to better understand your garden’s needs. It's perfect for those who want to dig deeper into how plants work.https://amzn.to/4ieCrPe

   
   

   Whether you're looking for practical advice, design tips, or just a little gardening inspiration, these books are sure to get you excited about your spring garden. Happy reading, and happy gardening