*This is a collaborative post.
A healthy garden is a wonderful place to spend a refreshing evening in summer. But having a garden that is safe and enjoyable for the whole family takes time and attention. More importantly, it takes more than just having a garden. Many of the features that make your garden attractive to people also appeal to pests if you’re not careful.
If you don’t want to end up needing professional pest control services, it’s important to understand what makes your garden so inviting for local pests.
An Edible Garden
Growing your own fruits and vegetables can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you have young children who can help in the garden. Unfortunately, you’re not the only one who will be interested in the harvest.
Many pests are naturally drawn to accessible food sources, so one thing you want to make sure of is not to keep your harvest available for unwanted visitors. This could be fallen apples or overripe tomatoes that are likely to attract insects, but also rodents! You can still maintain an edible garden as long as you regularly collect your harvest and remove anything that falls on the soil.
Tall Grass
Do you mow the lawn often? While wild garden designs can be charming, they are also the perfect environment for pests. Tall grass offers shelter from predators and protection from changing weather conditions. So, these areas are particularly appealing to insects and animals, up to rodents.
Ideally, you need to mow the lawn regularly to prevent risks. Alternatively, there are also landscaping services that can help you manage your lawn if time is an issue.
Unused Corners in the Garden
Most gardens have at least one area that receives less attention than the rest. It might be the space behind a shed, which is frequently left untouched in most British gardens, or a flower border that is simply out of sight (and therefore out of mind too).
These areas become highly attractive to pests because they have little to no disturbance. Additionally, because unused corners are left untouched, they also become ideal nesting spots for a variety of pests. While this doesn’t mean that everything should be pristine in the garden at all times, it’s a good idea to inspect areas you rarely use.
No Fencing
Open access makes it particularly easy for wildlife to enter your garden, whether it be cute hedgehogs or rodents.
Depending on where you live, this could mean rabbits damaging plants, rodents looking for access points to your home, and small animals making themselves at home. Is every visitor a problem? Not necessarily. But the absence of fencing increases the likelihood of pests settling in.
Fencing can act as an effective barrier that protects your privacy but also discourages animals from entering.
Easy Access to Compost Bins
Composting is one of the best things you can do for your garden, as it reduces waste and improves soil quality. The problem is that composting means food scraps and organic waste, which can attract pests when your bin is easy to access.
So, it’s important to invest in a compost bin with a secure lid to minimise risk. You also want to avoid waste that is likely to attract pests, such as meat, oily foods, and dairy products.
Your garden can be a beautiful, productive, and inviting place for your family, and, if you are not careful, for the neighbouring pests too. While this doesn’t mean that you should change your approach, you need to be strategic about garden safety.
