Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a go-to pest solution if you’re interested in controlling infestations naturally and organically. But you might be wondering: What will DE do to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial bugs? Will it harm or kill them too? Generally speaking, diatomaceous earth can kill bees, butterflies, and any other beneficial insects that come…
In my many years of gardening, I’ve found diatomaceous earth (DE) to be incredibly helpful. This fine, powdery substance has worked wonders against various pests while helping my plants do their best. But despite its benefits, I initially had some reservations about DE, primarily about its impact on earthworms. Would it harm or kill them?…
If you’re a gardener, you know how frustrating it can be to see your cucumber plants covered in ants. Not only are ants unsightly, but they can also be a sign of other plant problems. So what should you do? What are the best ways to get rid of ants on your cucumber plants? To…
Ants can be a real problem in gardening, and they can be especially pesky when they’re attracted to your pea plants. Understanding why ants are attracted to pea plants is the first step in effectively getting rid of them and keeping your plants healthy. When it comes to getting rid of ants on pea plants,…
Have you ever seen ants running up and down your tomato plants? If this has happened to you, you might be wondering: Why are ants on my tomatoes? And how do I get rid of them? The best ways to get rid of ants on tomato plants are to use homemade barriers such as bands…
I love growing carrots. Hands down, the best, crunchiest, and sweetest carrots I’ve ever eaten are always homegrown. Because of this, carrots are one of the vegetables I can’t help myself from checking on anytime I’m in the garden. That’s why I was alarmed when, one day, I saw a ton of ants on the…
Early one summer morning, I strolled out to the garden with my farm basket looped over my arm, eager to harvest my beans. I had plans for those beans. Some we’d be having for dinner that night, and the rest I’d be freezing. Imagine my surprise when instead of green I saw lots of black! …
If you’ve got aphids in your garden, you might be wondering whether you should intervene or just leave them alone. If you do nothing, will Mother Nature help you out? Will those aphids just go away on their own? Aphids will sometimes go away on their own due to the arrival of beneficial predators, the…
If you’ve been gardening for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard that aphids are bad news. But have you ever wondered how exactly aphids will harm your plants? Or what aphid damage looks like? Aphids harm plants by draining them of nutrients, causing yellowing or discolored foliage as well as plant decay and death….
If you’ve been gardening for any amount of time, you’ve likely had to deal with aphids at least once each season…and likely over and over year after year. It seems they’re always coming back, but why is that? Why won’t they just stay away for at least a few years? With nearly 5,000 species and…