Prevent Your Garden From Dying (Part 2)

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Sunday, May 6th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Before you douse your plants with poisons and chemicals to get rid of bugs, insects, and other diseases, you must first figure out what is causing them to get infected and sick in the first place. You have to find the underlying cause of the problem in order to apply the best possible cure and keep it from coming back.

Spraying your plants with insecticide can actually worsen the pest problem because you are not only killing the harmful insects, but you are also destroying the ones that can actually help you maintain a disease-free garden. In addition, the effect of insecticides on plants may vary and many of them are not effective at killing some types of harmful bugs, such as mites.

The best prevention is early detection. As an conscientious gardener, you have to get to the root of the problem and find out what is destroying your garden. Examine the following 7 factors described below to find out why your perennials are easy targets for bugs and insects:

1. Drought. Not enough water studs the growth of the plant, makes them look sick and weak, and causes the leaves to turn yellow or produce brown tips.

2. Excess water. Just as not enough water kills your plants, too much water also causes your perennials to become weak and gradually die. If you are living in a wet climate, choose plants that are more tolerant to extra water.

3. Poor Sunlight. Most perennials love sunshine. Plants and flowers that aren’t getting enough sun become pale until they eventually shrivel and die. If your garden is in a shady location, choose perennials that are more tolerant to the shade.

4. Too Much Sunlight. On the other hand, there are many types of perennials that prefer less sunlight. Too much sun causes these shade-loving flowers and leaves to turn pale and develop thin patches and/or dark burns.

5. Air Pollution. Some plants and flowers do not respond well to smog. Air pollution causes their leaves to look warped and distorted. If air pollution is a problem in your area, choose perennials that are more resistant to them.

6. Lack Of Fertilizer. Perennials that are deficient in one or several required nutrients develop discoloration in their leaves and stunt their growth. Go to your local nursery and ask for information on different types of fertilizers that fit the need of your plants.