Eliminate Those Nasty Vegetable Garden Pests

Pesky insects and bugs are a problem for most vegetable gardeners. Most bugs aren't particularly destructive, they're just annoying. But if you find a garden pest devouring your harvest, you're not going to be too happy.

The tomato hornworm is one of the most unsightly pests you'll find in the garden. It is a fat, white and green worm with a big horn that resembles a stinger. You can pull it off the plant while wearing gloves, and kill it by dunking it in soapy water. You could also spray it with stomach poison insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis or neem oil.

Thrips overrun numerous plants and create uneven white markings on the plant's leaves. To get rid of them, use a hose to wash off the bugs and then spray on some contact poison.

Snails and slugs will devour the leaves on your plants, and they always leave a slimy trail as evidence. You could purchase bait to get rid of them, but if you put a shallow dish containing beer in the garden, they will be attracted to it and drown.

If you notice fat white worms in the soil, you're probably looking at grubs. When grubs attack your plants they start to droop and their growth will be stunted. They can be held in check by adding milky spore to the soil. Grubs later become beetles, which can be wiped out using stomach poison insecticide.

Cutworms tend to attack a plant's stem at the base. The only successful means of controlling them is by placing a paper collar around your plants.

Corn earworms will infiltrate a cob of corn while it's still on the stalk and consume the kernels. Likewise, a tomato fruitworm consumes the insides of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Try using an insecticide that specifically targets earworms.

Borers are found in many vine plants with thick stems. You have to cut them out of the plant in order to get rid of them. You might end up having to pull up the plant and destroying it if you find a borer near the base of the plant. Try using insecticide to discourage them.

Beetles are bothersome pests that enjoy munching on leaves. You have to get rid of them because they can do a tremendous amount of damage to your garden. You can either spray them with insecticide or just pick them off the plants.

Aphids are a common sight in any vegetable garden. Typically, you'll come across bunches of tiny, soft bugs in assorted colors. Insecticide soap or neem oil gets rid of aphids.