Pest Control Grand Prairie, TX Specialists’ Guide on Spring Pests and the Organic Approach

The glorious spring is upon us and we are all welcoming it with open arms! Trees are in bloom, the turf pushes up the ground strong sparkling green blades, the flowers gift us colored blossoms and it seems that Nature itself started to sing once again. But (as there’s always a “but”) together with spring also come the common garden Texan pests. Are they harmless? Not even by far, but this doesn’t mean we have to start chemical warfare on them. Today, our pest control Grand Prairie, TX experts share a few tips on how to prevent and control common spring pest infestations without harming the environment and keep a safe haven for the other beneficial insects that bless our properties with their presence.

1. Identify Your Enemies

Before getting into a pest control plan, you should know what pests are the most likely to invade your turf and gardens. Some you have met before, others may be new to you, so let’s see the most probable uninvited guests you’ll have to deal with this spring:

• Aphids: small insects with long legs, soft bodies, and antennae, they grow on the underside of leaves.
• Caterpillars: they are pretty visible and pretty dangerous for your veggies and fresh leaves, but if you expect to have a full butterfly garden in the next months, keep them at bay but don’t exterminate them completely.
• Fire Ants: they are dangerous pests which also sting and bite; they won’t feed on your turf per se, but they need to be contained as quickly as you lay eyes on them.
• Spider Mites: they look like tiny spiders (sporting eight legs), they vary in color and have no antennae; they live on the underside of leaves and buds and feed on vegetables, flowers, scented herbs and even house plants.
• Snails and slugs: easily observable, these spring uninvited guests feast on vegetable seedlings, full grown veggies, flowers, bulbs, leaves and plant stems.
• Beetles: you need to recognize the good beetles from the less good ones, as beneficial beetles feed on aphids and caterpillars while the pest beetles attack vegetables and pretty much all green leaves.

2. Control Them with Care

As we said, there are plenty of beneficial insects finding their way to your garden and many pests trying to get unnoticed while they chew on your grasses, flowers, leaves, and veggies. Some of the best preventative organic methods of keeping pests at bay, according to our pest control Grand Prairie, TX experts are:

• Efficient irrigation
• Use of native and adapted plants which are more resilient to local pests
• Proper mowing
• Choose organic fertilization over chemicals
• Encourage natural predators to find a home on your property and keep pests at bay
• Monitor pest activity and catch the infestations early
• Refrain from using generic pesticides, as they can also kill beneficial insects

Always call your local pest control Grand Prairie, TX experts to advise you on the best natural, organic pest control approaches to keep your plants and vegetables safe and the beneficial insects happy and buzzing.